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Issued: July 2015 Recreational New regulations are highlighted in red Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic Saltwater Regulations (please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational for the most regulations) All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except snowy (Duane Raver) Snappers

General Snappers Regulations: ••Within state waters of the Atlantic and Gulf, the snapper aggregate bag limit is 10 fish   ●   ●   ●   ● per harvester unless the Snapper, , Red Snapper, Vermilion Snapper, Lane rule specifies that it is not Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: included in the aggregate. This ••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" (see remarks) ••Atlantic - 20" ••Atlantic - 12" ••Atlantic and Gulf - 8" means that a harvester can ••Gulf - 16" ••Gulf - 10" retain a total of 10 snappers Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: in any combination of species. ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - 10 per harvester ••Atlantic - Open -round ••Atlantic - 5 per harvester ••Gulf - 100 pounds (see remarks) Exceptions are noted below. Remarks ••Gulf - May 23–July 12; Sept. 5, 6, 7; ••Gulf - 10 per harvester ••If no season information is ••May possess no more than 2 over Remarks and every Saturday and Sunday in included, the species is open 30" per harvester or vessel per day, Remarks ••Gulf not included within the snapper Sept. and Oct.; and Nov. 1 year-round. whichever is less. 30" or larger not ••Not included within the snapper aggregate bag limit. included within the snapper aggregate Daily Recreational Bag Limit: aggregate bag limit. bag limit. ••Atlantic and Gulf - 2 per harvester All Other Snapper   ● Remarks Minimum Size Limits: ••Gulf - Zero daily bag and possession limit ••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" for captain and crew on for-hire vessels. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Remarks ••Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk and , Gray Snapper, Snapper, Black ()   ● Snapper, Mutton   ● Schoolmaster   ● & Wenchman  ● Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10" ••Atlantic and Gulf - 16" ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10" ••Atlantic and Gulf - None Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Grouper

Atlantic Grouper General Regulations: ••Atlantic grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the Atlantic and all state waters Grouper, Warsaw off Monroe County (Gulf and Grouper, Black   ● Grouper, Snowy  ● Grouper, Red   ● &  ● Atlantic sides). Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••Atlantic grouper aggregate ••Atlantic - 24" ••Atlantic and Gulf - None ••Atlantic and Gulf - 20" ••Atlantic and Gulf - None bag limit is 3 fish, which ••Gulf - 22" means that no harvester shall Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: retain more than 3 Atlantic Season: ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per vessel per day in any combination ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Gulf - 4 per harvester ••Gulf - Open year-round of each species ••Gulf - Open year-round of species. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish ••Gulf - 2 per person can be gag or black General Regulations: ••Gulf - 4 per harvester ••Gulf grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the Gulf except off Monroe County (where Atlantic rules apply). Grouper, Yellowfin ••Gulf grouper aggregate bag Grouper, Scamp   ●   ●  ●   ● limit is 4 fish which means that Gag Other Grouper & Yellowmouth no harvester can retain more Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Other Grouper includes: Minimum Size Limits: than 4 Gulf grouper in any ••Atlantic - 20" ••Atlantic - 24" ••Tiger, Rock Hind, , Coney ••Atlantic and Gulf - 20" combination of species. ••Gulf - 16" ••Gulf - 22" and ••Zero bag limit for captain Season: and crew of for-hire vessels Season: Seasons: Minimum Size Limit: ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 applies to gag, black, and red ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic - Closed: Jan. 1–April 30 ••Atlantic and Gulf - None ••Gulf - Open year-round ••Gulf - Open year-round ••Gulf - State waters off Franklin, grouper only. Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 Open April 1–June 30 ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Gulf - State waters off all other ••Gulf - Open year-round ••Gulf - 4 per harvester ••Gulf - 4 per harvester Season Information: counties: Open July 1–Dec. 3 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••If no season information is Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester provided, the species is open ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish ••Gulf - 4 per harvester year-round. can be gag or black ••Gulf - 2 per harvester All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC) Reef Fish

Other Reef Fish (If no season information is provided, the species is open year-round)

Amberjack, Lesser & , Greater  ●  ● Black   ● Triggerfish (Gray)  ● Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••Atlantic - 28" fork length ••Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than 14" or ••Atlantic - 13" ••Atlantic - 12" fork length (will change from 12" ••Gulf - 30" fork length (Size limit changing greater than 22" fork length ••Gulf - 10" to 14" — see MyFWC.com for effective date) to 34" — see MyFWC.com for effective date) ••Gulf - Closed until Jan. 1, 2016 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person aggregate of the ••Atlantic - 5 per harvester Season: ••Atlantic - Open year-round two species ••Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester ••Atlantic - Open year-round ••Gulf - Closed June 1–July 31 ••Gulf - Closed until Jan. 1, 2016 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester ••Atlantic - 100 pounds ••Gulf - Closed until Jan. 1, 2016

Red Porgy   ● Tilefish, Golden  ● Lionfish Hogfish  ● Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••Atlantic - 14" ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester ••Atlantic and Gulf - None ••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" fork length ••Gulf - None ••Gulf - 4 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks ••Atlantic and Gulf - unlimited ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Golden tilefish included within Atlantic and Gulf Remarks ••Gulf - 100 pounds Grouper aggregate bag limits ••No license required to harvest by dip net, pole spear, Hawaiian sling. ••Divers are encouraged to safely remove lionfish whenever they are found.

Pelagics

Billfish  , King  Mackerel, Spanish  Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: •• 63"; ••47" lower jaw fork length with head attached or ••24" fork length ••12" fork length ••Blue 99"; 25" cleithrum to keel length if head removed •• 66"; Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: •• 66" ••2 per harvester per day ••15 per harvester per day ••1 per harvester per day, not to exceed a maximum Daily Recreational Bag Limit: of 4 per recreational (not for-hire) vessel or 15 per Remarks ••1 per harvester per day aggregate bag limit for-hire vessel per day ••Bag limit reduced to 1 in some state waters if federal waters are closed to recreational harvest. Remarks Remarks ••Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed ••All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov. in federal waters. Zero daily bag and possession ••HMS permit required in federal waters. limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels.

Wahoo  (Ling)  Tripletail   T Dolphinfish  Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••None ••33" fork length ••15" ••Atlantic - 20" fork length ••Gulf - None Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••2 per harvester per day ••1 per harvester per day, not to exceed 6 per ••2 per harvester per day Daily Recreational Bag Limit: vessel per day ••10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per Remarks vessel per day. Vessel limit does not apply to ••Hook and line only. No snatch hooks. for-hire vessels.

Scan this code with your Buy your license online at Report fish and wildlife mobile device to view the License.MyFWC.com or law violations toll free at: regulations online. toll free at: 1-888-347-4356 1-888-404-3922 Coastal Species

Bluefish  ■ ■ Bonefish ■ Pompano, African ●  T ■ Sheepshead ●   T Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••12" fork length ••No minimum ••0 per harvester per day ••24" fork length ••12" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••10 per harvester per day ••100 fish per harvester per day •• only ••2 per harvester per day, not to exceed ••15 per harvester per day ••Hook and line only 2 per vessel per day Remarks ••Snatching prohibited

Weakfish   Snook (All species)   T ■ Spotted Seatrout ●   T ■ Permit ●  T ■ Tarpon ● T ■ Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Recreational Bag Limit: •• Management Area (WMA) in ••Not less than 28" or more than 32" ••Not less than 15" or more than 20" ••22" fork Special Permit Zone (SPZ); ••1 per harvester per year. $50 harvest Nassau County - 12" Atlantic excluding Monroe (See remarks) Not less than 11" or more than 22" tag required. Vessel limit of one fish. ••All other areas - no minimum ••Not less than 28" or more than 33" fork length all other areas Harvest tag can only be used when fish Gulf and Monroe County Daily Recreational Bag Limit: is retained for potential IGFA record. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••5 per harvester per day N.W. Zone Closed Season: ••WMA - 1 per harvester Closed Season: ••4 per harvester per day S.W. Zone ••May 1–July 31 SPZ Only Remarks ••All other areas - 100 pounds per day ••Atlantic (excluding Monroe) closed ••4 per harvester per day S.E. Zone ••Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Dec. 15–Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31. ••6 per harvester per day N.E. Zone the water during release. Spearing and Remarks ••1 per harvester per day, not to exceed ••Gulf including Monroe County, Dec. 1– snatch hooking prohibited. Bottom ••Regulations apply in parts of Nassau 2 per vessel per day SPZ; end of February, and May 1–Aug. 31. Remarks weighted jigs prohibited in Boca Grande County only. ••2 per harvester per day all other state ••May possess no more than 1 over 20"; Pass. See: MyFWC.com/Fishing/ ••See map at: MyFWC.com/Fishing/ Daily Recreational Bag Limit: waters included in the regional bag limit. See Saltwater/Recreational/Tarpon for Saltwater/Recreational/Weakfish ••1 per harvester per day management zone map at MyFWC.com. Remarks additional information. Remarks ••May possess 1 over 22" fork length ••Snook permit required for harvest outside the SPZ, not to exceed 2 over when saltwater license required. See 22" fork per vessel per day. For map of MyFWC.com for snook permit details. SPZ, please see: MyFWC.com. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited. Red Drum (Redfish)   T Size Limits: ••Not less than 18" or more than 27" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: , Striped ••2 per harvester per day in NE and NW Black Drum   T ■   T (Black) & Silver Pompano, Florida  T ■ zones, 1 per harvester per day in S Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: zone. See map at MyFWC.com. ••Not less than 14" or more than 24" ••12" ••No minimum size ••11" fork length ••Vessel limit of 8 fish, on-shore posses- sion limit during transport 6 fish Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••5 per harvester per day ••10 per harvester per day ••50 aggregate per harvester per day; ••6 per harvester per day Remarks ••Aggregate vessel limits ••, spearing, snatching Remarks Remarks Remarks Feb. 1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel; prohibited. Harvest in Federal waters ••May possess one over 24". Snatching ••May be harvested by spearing. ••Hook and line, and beach or Sept. 1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel prohibited. prohibited. Snatching prohibited. haul seine ONLY.

Can't find your fish in the regulations?

Florida’s coastal waters are home to thousands of marine species, and the majority of these species have no specific regulations with regard to bag limits, size limits, gear restrictions or closed seasons. These species are often referred to as “unregulated species,” although the name Blackfin can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any marine species that does not have specific regulations, harvesting more than 100 pounds or two fish (whichever is the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity and requires a commercial license. This means the recreational Jack Crevalle White Grunt Gulf Kingfish harvest limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or Examples of "unregulated species" include: two organisms if the combined of the two organisms Ladyfish, , great , white grunt, southern stingray, gulf king- exceeds 100 pounds. fish (whiting), pinfish, Atlantic croaker, jack crevalle, mackerel, hardhead catfish, and blackfin tuna.

 Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed). ■ State regulations apply in federal waters.  Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most ● Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. more points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait. and Mollusks

Shrimp  , Blue Crab, Stone ■ Closed Season: Closed Season: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: ••April & May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, ••Regional trap closures apply. See MyFWC.com for ••2 ¾" claw ••3" Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties 2015 trap closure dates and locations. Closed Season: Closed Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••May 16–Oct. 14 ••June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. ••5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per ••10 gallons whole per harvester per day ••July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas except Apala- Daily Recreational Bag Limit: day, whichever is less chicola Bay which has open areas year-round. Remarks ••1 gal. claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, Remarks ••5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. whichever is less Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing and select "Saltwater", Harvest of egg-bearing prohibited. ••2 bags per harvester or vessel except Apala- Remarks "Regulations" and "" for additional regula- chicola Bay ••5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Illegal tions specific to Dade, Nassau and Duval to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing Remarks crabs prohibited. • Apalachicola Bay: special bag limits and other harvest restrictions apply. See MyFWC.com for detailed information. Bay ● Spiny (Hard) ● • Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/ areas. Season: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: • Harvest from approved areas during ••Open June 27–Sept. 24, 2015 ••Carapace must be greater than 3" measured in ••1" thick across hinge daylight hours only. the water ••Go to FloridaAquaculture.com to determine the Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Open or Closed status of shellfish harvesting ••2 gallons whole or 1 pint per harvester per Seasons: ••One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel areas. day; no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon ••Sport Season Open July 29–30, 2015 (whole in shell) ••May not harvest half hour after official sunset meat per vessel anytime ••Regular Season Opens August 6, 2015 Remarks until half hour before official sunrise. Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Illegal to harvest from closed areas. ••1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole ••Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf ••Sport Season: 6 per harvester per day in Monroe ••Go to www.FloridaAquaculture.com for allowable in shell) of from the Pasco-Hernando county line, County and , 12 per day in harvesting areas. ••Harvest prohibited in any harvest area that to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal all other harvest areas. ••May not harvest half hour after official sunset is in the Closed status as determined by the in Bay County. It is illegal to harvest, possess ••Regular Season: 6 per harvester in all areas until half hour before official sunrise. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer and land bay scallops on waters outside open Services. Remarks harvest area. ••Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny lobster permit required when license required. Harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited.

Sharks

Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Examples of Retainable with a 54" fork length minimum  T ••1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less. Remarks ••The retainable sharks are managed as a group for bag limit purposes. In other words, you can only harvest one per day and the shark that you harvest must be Bull one of the retainable species. ••Hook-and-line gear only. ••See list of prohibited species below. Nurse Spinner

Complete List of Retainable Sharks with no minimum size limit  T

Atlantic Sharpnose Blacknose Blacktip

Bonnethead Finetooth Smooth Dogfish

Prohibited Species

It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell or exchange the following species: Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), , , Atlantic Angel Shark, Basking Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Bigeye Thresher Shark, , Reef Shark, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, , Galapagos Shark, Lemon Shark, Longfin Mako Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Night Shark, Silky Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Smalltail Shark, , Whale Shark, White Shark, Tiger Shark, Great , Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead Shark, , Devil Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Longbill Spearfish, , , Queen , Calico , Stony, Hard and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Bahama Starfish, and Longspine Urchin. Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited. Puffer fish harvest is prohibited in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties.

FWC – Division of Marine Management, 2590 Executive Center Circle East, Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: 850-487-0554 This publication is provided as a guide to Florida fishing laws and regulations. The Florida Administrative Code is the final authority on fishing laws. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) strives to ensure information in this booklet is accurate, but assumes no liability for any errors that occur in this publication.