Issued: January 2016 Florida Recreational New regulations are highlighted in red Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic Saltwater Fishing Regulations (please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational for the most current regulations) All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except snowy grouper (Duane Raver) Reef Fish
Snapper (Gulf reef fish anglers — see page 8)
General Snapper Regulations: ••Within state waters of the Atlantic and Gulf, the snapper aggregate bag limit is 10 fish ● ● ● ● per harvester unless the species Snapper, Cubera 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 year-round ••Atlantic - 5 per harvester ••Gulf - 100 pounds (see remarks) Exceptions are noted below. Remarks ••Gulf - See MyFWC.com for ••Gulf - 10 per harvester ••If no season information is ••May possess no more than 2 over Remarks 2016 season included, the species is open 30" per harvester or vessel per day, Remarks ••Gulf not included within the snapper year-round. whichever is less. 30" or larger not Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Not included within the snapper aggregate bag limit. included within the snapper aggregate ••Atlantic and Gulf - 2 per harvester aggregate bag limit. bag limit. Remarks All Other Snapper ● ••Gulf - Zero daily bag and possession limit Minimum Size Limits: for captain and crew on for-hire vessels. ••Atlantic and Gulf - 12" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Remarks ••Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk and Yellowtail Snapper, Gray Snapper, Snapper, Black (Mangrove) ● 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 ● & Speckled Hind ● 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 groupers 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 Gulf Grouper 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 ● Gag ● Other Grouper ● ● limit is 4 fish which means that & 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, Red Hind, Coney ••Atlantic and Gulf - 20" combination of species. ••Gulf - 16" ••Gulf - 22" and Graysby ••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 ulf - Open year-round ••Gulf - State waters off all other ••G ••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 & Amberjack, Greater ● Banded Rudderfish ● Black Sea Bass ● 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 ••Gulf - 34" fork length greater than 22" fork length ••Gulf - 10" ••Gulf - 14" fork length Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: ••Atlantic - Open year-round ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person aggregate of the ••Atlantic - 5 per harvester ••Atlantic - Open year-round ••Gulf - Closed June 1–July 31 two species ••Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester ••Gulf - Closed June 1–July 31 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester ••Atlantic - 10 per harvester ••Gulf - 2 per harvester
Red Porgy ● Tilefish, Golden ● Great Barracuda ■ Hogfish ● Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••Atlantic - 14" ••Atlantic - 1 per harvester ••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 ••2 per person and 6 per vessel applies only in state ••Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per harvester ••Atlantic - 3 per harvester ••Golden tilefish included within Atlantic and Gulf and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami- ••Gulf - 100 pounds Grouper aggregate bag limits Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. ••Unregulated in all other areas.
Pelagics
Billfish Swordfish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Spanish Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: ••Sailfish 63"; ••47" lower jaw fork length with head attached or ••24" fork length ••12" fork length ••Blue Marlin 99"; 25" cleithrum to keel length if head removed ••White Marlin 66"; Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Roundscale Spearfish 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 Cobia (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.
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Bluefish ■ Blue Runner ■ 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 ••Catch and release 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: ••Weakfish 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: Mullet, Striped ••2 per harvester per day in NE and NW Black Drum T ■ Flounder 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 ••Gigging, 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, cast net 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 Tuna Hardhead Catfish 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 weight of the two organisms Ladyfish, bonito, menhaden, white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish exceeds 100 pounds. (whiting), pinfish, Atlantic croaker, jack crevalle, cero mackerel, hardhead catfish, gafftopsail catfish and blackfin tuna.
Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed). ■ State regulations apply in federal waters. M easured 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. Crustaceans and Mollusks
Bay Scallops ● Spiny Lobster Crab, Stone ■ Oysters Season: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: ••Open June 25–Sept. 24, 2016 ••Carapace must be greater than 3" measured in ••2 ¾" claw ••3" the water Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Closed Season: Closed Season: ••2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per harvester per Seasons: ••May 16–Oct. 14 ••June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. day; no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon ••Sport Season Open July 27–28, 2016 ••July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas except Apala- Daily Recreational Bag Limit: meat per vessel anytime ••Regular Season Closes on March 31, 2016 chicola Bay which has open areas year-round. Reopens Aug. 6, 2016 ••1 gal. claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, Remarks whichever is less Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••2 bags per harvester or vessel except Apala- Remarks of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line, ••Sport Season: 6 per harvester per day in Monroe chicola Bay to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal County and Biscayne National Park, 12 per day in ••5 traps maximum. Visit MyFWC.com for statewide in Bay County. It is illegal to harvest, possess all other harvest areas. trap construction requirements and specific Remarks and land bay scallops on waters outside open ••Regular Season: 6 per harvester in all areas requirements that apply in Miami-Dade, Monroe ••Aplachicola Bay: special bag limits and other harvest area. and Collier. Illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest harvest restrictions apply. See MyFWC.com for Remarks of egg-bearing crabs prohibited. detailed information. ••Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny lobster ••Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/ permit required when license required. Harvest areas. of egg-bearing females prohibited. ••Harvest from approved shellfish areas during daylight hours only. ••Go to FloridaAquaculture.com to determine the Shrimp Clams (Hard) ● Crab, Blue Open or Closed status of shellfish harvesting areas. Closed Season: Minimum Size Limits: Closed Season: ••May not harvest half hour after official sunset ••April & May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, ••1" thick across hinge ••Regional trap closures apply. See MyFWC.com for until half hour before official sunrise. Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties 2016 trap closure dates and locations. ••1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole Daily Recreational Bag Limit: in shell) Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel Daily Recreational Bag Limit: ••Harvest prohibited in any harvest area that ••5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per (whole in shell) ••10 gallons whole per harvester per day is in the Closed status as determined by the day, whichever is less Remarks Remarks Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Remarks ••Illegal to harvest from closed areas. ••5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Services. ••Visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing and select "Saltwater", ••Go to www.FloridaAquaculture.com for allowable Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited. "Regulations" and "Shrimp" for additional regula- harvesting areas. tions specific to Dade, Nassau and Duval ••May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise.
Sharks
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Retainable Sharks with a 54" fork length minimum T ••1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less. Blue, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, shortfin mako. Remarks ••The retainable sharks are managed as a group for bag limit purposes. In other words, you can only harvest one shark per day and the shark that you harvest must be one of the retainable species. Bull Common Thresher ••Hook-and-line gear only. ••See list of prohibited species below. Nurse Spinner
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), Nassau Grouper, Sawfish, Atlantic Angel Shark, Basking Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Bigeye Thresher Shark, Bignose Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Caribbean Sharpnose Shark, Dusky 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, Spiny Dogfish, Whale Shark, White Shark, Tiger Shark, Great Hammerhead Shark, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Manta Ray, Devil Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Longbill Spearfish, Mediterranean Spearfish, Sturgeon, Queen Conch, Calico Scallop, 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 Fisheries 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.