Florida Recreational Issued: January 2021 New regulations are highlighted in red Saltwater Fishing Regulations (please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic for the most current regulations) Reef Fish All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except blueline tilefish and golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC) Snapper

General Snapper Regulations: • Snapper Aggregate Bag Limit – Within state waters of the Atlantic and Gulf, Snapper, Cubera  u l Snapper, Red  u l X Snapper, Vermilion  u l X Snapper, Lane  u l all species of snapper are Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: included in a 10 fish per • Atlantic and Gulf - 12" (see below) • Atlantic - 20" • Atlantic - 12" • Atlantic and Gulf - 8" harvester per day aggregate • Gulf - 16" • Gulf - 10" bag limit in any combination Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: of snapper species, unless • Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 10 per harvester stated otherwise. under 30", included within snapper • Atlantic - Open year-round • Atlantic - 5 per harvester not included • Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester, not • Seasons – If no seasonal aggregate bag limit • Gulf - To be determined within snapper aggregate bag limit included within snapper aggregate • May additionally harvest up to 2 over • Gulf - 10 per harvester not included bag limit information is provided, the Daily Recreational Bag Limit: species is open year-round. 30" per harvester or vessel, whichever within snapper aggregate bag limit is less, and these 2 fish over 30" are • Atlantic and Gulf - 2 per harvester not included within snapper aggregate • Gulf - Zero daily bag and possession limit bag limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Other Snapper  u l Minimum Size Limits: • Dog and Mahogany: Atlantic and Gulf - 12” • No minimum size limit for other snappers Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic and Gulf - 10 per harvester Snapper, Gray Snapper, Snapper, (Mangrove)  u l Snapper, Mutton  u l X Schoolmaster  u l Yellowtail  u l X Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • Atlantic and Gulf - 10" • Atlantic and Gulf - 18" • Atlantic and Gulf - 10" • Atlantic and Gulf - 12" total length 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 - 5 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  u l X Grouper, Snowy  l Grouper, Red  u l X & Speckled Hind  l Atlantic sides). Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • Atlantic Grouper/Tilefish • Atlantic - 24" • Atlantic and Gulf - None • Atlantic and Gulf - 20" • Atlantic and Gulf - None Aggregate Bag Limit - • Gulf - 24" includes all species of Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: grouper plus golden tilefish Season: • Atlantic - 1 per harvester • Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 • Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per vessel per day and blueline tilefish in any • Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 • Gulf - 4 per harvester • Gulf - Open year-round of each species combination of species. • Gulf - Open year-round Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Seasons – If no seasonal Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 3 per harvester information is provided, the • Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish • Gulf - 2 per Harvester* species is open year-round. can be gag or black • Gulf - 4 per harvester*

Gulf Grouper General Regulations: Grouper, Yellowfin • Gulf grouper regulations apply  u l to all state waters of the Gulf Grouper, Scamp Gag Grouper  u l X & Yellowmouth  u l Other Groupers  l except off Monroe County Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Other Grouper includes: (where Atlantic rules apply). • Atlantic - 20" • Atlantic - 24" • Atlantic and Gulf - 20" • Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney, Graysby, • Gulf Grouper Aggregate Bag • Gulf - 16" • Gulf - 24" Misty and Yellowedge Limit - all species of grouper Season: in the Gulf are included in Season: Season: • Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 Season: a 4 fish per harvester per • Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 • Atlantic - Closed: Jan. 1–April 30 • Gulf - Open year-round • Atlantic - Rock hind, Red hind, Coney, • Gulf - Open year-round • Gulf - State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Graysby: Closed Jan. 1-April 30 day aggregate bag limit in Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Jefferson and Taylor counties: Open April 1 • Atlantic - All others open year-round any combination of grouper Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Atlantic - 3 per harvester –June 30, & Sept 1–Dec. 31. • • Gulf - Open year-round species. • Atlantic - 3 per harvester Gulf - 4 per harvester • Gulf - State waters off all other • • Seasons – If no seasonal • Gulf - 4 per harvester counties: Open June 1–Dec. 31 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: information is provided, the • Atlantic - 3 per harvester species is open year-round. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Gulf - 4 per harvester * Zero bag limit for captain and crew • Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish of for-hire vessels applies to gag, can be gag or black black, and red grouper only. • Gulf - 2 per harvester* Reef Fish All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except blueline tilefish and golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC)

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

Amberjack, Greater  l X Tilefish, Blueline  l Great Barracuda n Hogfish  l X Triggerfish (Gray)  l X Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Regulations only apply in Collier, Monroe, Atlantic regulations apply to Monroe county. Minimum Size Limits: • Atlantic - 28" fork length • Atlantic - 3 per harvester per day Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Includes all waters south of Cape Sable. • Atlantic - 12" fork length • Gulf - 34" fork length • Gulf - 100 pounds or 2 per harvester, Martin counties. • Gulf - 15" fork length whichever is greater Minimum Size Limits: Season: Minimum Size Limits: • Atlantic - 16" fork length Season: • Atlantic - Open year-round Season: • Not less than 15" or more than 36" • Gulf - 14" fork length • Atlantic - Open year-round • Gulf - Open May 1–May 31, Aug. • Atlantic - Open May 1-Aug. 31 • Gulf - Open March 1- May 31, Daily Recreational Bag Limit: 1–Oct. 31 • Gulf - Open year-round Season: Aug. 1-Dec. 31, see MyFWC.com • 2 per person or 6 per vessel • Atlantic - Open May 1–Oct. 31 for updates Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks • May possess one over 36" per vessel. • Gulf - Open year round • Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester • Blueline tilefish included within Atlantic • Unregulated in all other areas. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: grouper aggregate bag limits Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 10 per harvester • Atlantic - 1 per harvester • Gulf - 1 per harvester • Gulf - 5 per harvester

Amberjack, Lesser & Red Porgy  u l Tilefish, Golden  l Banded Rudderfish  l X Black Sea Bass  u l Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • Atlantic - 14" • Atlantic - 1 per harvester • Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than • Atlantic - 13" • Gulf - None • Gulf - 100 pounds or 2 per person, 14" or greater than 22" fork length • Gulf - 10" whichever is greater Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 3 per harvester Remarks • Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person • Atlantic - 7 per harvester • Gulf - 100 pounds • Golden tilefish included within Atlantic aggregate of the two species • Gulf - 100 pounds per harvester grouper aggregate bag limits

Pelagics

Billfish  H Blackfin Tuna  n Mackerel, King  Mackerel, Spanish  Swordfish H Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • Sailfish 63"; • No minimum size limit • 24" fork length • 12" fork length • 47" lower jaw fork length with head at- • Blue Marlin 99"; tached or 25" cleithrum to keel length Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • White Marlin 66"; if head removed 2 fish per person or 10 fish per ves- Atlantic (excluding Monroe) - 2 per 15 per harvester • Roundscale Spearfish 66" • • • sel per day, whichever is greater. harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Gulf (including Monroe) - 3 per • 1 per harvester per day, not to exceed a • 1 per harvester aggregate bag limit harvester maximum of 4 per recreational (not for- hire) vessel or 15 per for-hire vessel Remarks Remarks • Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All • Bag limit reduced to 1 in some state Remarks landed fish must be reported to NOAA waters if federal waters are closed to • All landed fish must be reported to within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or recreational harvest. NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. hmspermits.noaa.gov. HMS permit required in federal waters. • HMS permit required in federal waters. Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels.

Wahoo  Cobia (Ling)  Tripletail  H u T n Dolphinfish  Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • None • 33" fork length • 18" • Atlantic - 20" fork length • Gulf - None Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • 2 per harvester • Atlantic - 1 per harvester not to exceed • 2 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit: 6 per vessel • 10 per harvester per day, not to Remarks • Gulf - 1 per harvester, not to exceed exceed 60 per vessel per day. Vessel Hook and line only. No snatch hooks. 2 per vessel • limit does not apply to for-hire vessels.

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

Pompano, Bluefish  n Flounder  u T Bonefish H n African l H  T n Sheepshead l  u T n Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: • 12" fork length • 12" • 0 per harvester • 24" fork length • 12" Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 3 per harvester • 10 per harvester • Catch and release only • 2 per harvester per day, not to exceed • 8 per harvester • Gulf - 10 per harvester (includes • Hook and line only 2 per vessel Monroe county) Remarks Remarks • May be harvested by spearing. • Snatching prohibited Snatching prohibited. • Vessel limit of 50 fish during March • Changes pending, see MyFWC.com and April

Snook Permit l  H n Weakfish  H u (All species)  H u n l H n T Spotted T Tarpon T Size Limits: Seatrout l H  u T n Minimum Size Limits: Size Limits: Recreational Bag Limit: • 22" fork Special Permit Zone (SPZ); • Weakfish Management Area (WMA) in • Not less than 28" or more than 32" • 1 per harvester per year. $50 harvest Not less than 11" or more than 22" Size Limits: Nassau County - 12" Atlantic excluding Monroe tag required. Vessel limit of one fish. fork length all other areas • Not less than 15" or more than 19" • All other areas - no minimum • Not less than 28" or more than 33" Harvest tag can only be used when fish • May not possess more than 1 over Gulf and Monroe County is retained for potential IGFA record. Closed Season: 19" per vessel Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • April 1–July 31 SPZ Only • WMA - 1 per harvester Closed Season: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • All other areas - 100 pounds per • Atlantic (excluding Monroe) closed • Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • 3 per harvester per day W.P. Zone harvester Dec. 15–Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31. the water during release. Spearing and • 1 per harvester, not to exceed 2 per • 5 per harvester per day B.B. Zone • Gulf including Monroe County, Dec. 1– snatch hooking prohibited. Bottom vessel SPZ; Remarks • 3 per harvester per day S. Zone end of February, and May 1–Aug. 31. weighted jigs prohibited in Boca Grande • 2 per harvester all other state waters • Regulations apply in parts of Nassau • 2 per harvester per day C.E. Zone Pass. See: MyFWC.com/Fishing/ County only. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks • 5 per harvester per day N.E Zone Saltwater/Recreational/Tarpon for • See map at: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Salt- • 1 per harvester additional information. • May possess 1 over 22" fork length Closed Season: water/Recreational/Weakfish outside the SPZ, not to exceed 2 over • Feb. W.P. Zone Remarks 22" fork per vessel per day. For map of • Nov. - Dec. C.E. Zone • Snook permit required for harvest SPZ, please see: MyFWC.com. when saltwater license required. See • Zero daily bag and possession limit for Remarks MyFWC.com for snook permit details. captain and crew on for-hire vessels • See management zone map on pg. 9 Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited. • Zero bag limit for captain and crew • Zero daily bag and possession limit for of for-hire vessels captain and crew on for-hire vessels • For current regulations see MyFWC.com • Remains Catch-and-release only in • Remains Catch-and-release only in Pasco-Gordon Pass/Collier counties Pasco-Gordon Pass/Collier counties. Red Drum (Redfish)  H u T Size Limits: • Not less than 18" or more than 27" Mullet, Striped Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • 2 per harvester per day in the NE zone, Black Drum  u T n Pompano, Florida  H T n (Black) & Silver Blue Runner n and 1 per harvester in the NW and S Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: zone. See map on p. 6 • Not less than 14" or more than 24" • 11" fork length • No minimum size • No minimum • Off the water possession limit of 6 fish Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks • 5 per harvester • 6 per harvester • 50 aggregate per harvester; • 100 fish per harvester • Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited. • Aggregate vessel limits Harvest in Federal waters prohibited. Remarks Remarks Feb. 1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel; • Remains Catch-and-release only in • May possess one over 24". Snatching • Hook and line, cast net and beach or Sept. 1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel Pasco-Gordon Pass/Collier counties 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 Gulf Kingfish Jack Crevalle Lionfish Hardhead Catfish restrictions or closed seasons. These species are often referred to as “unregulated species,” although the name can be a bit misleading. State law provides that for any Examples of "unregulated species" include: Ladyfish, bonito, menhaden, white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish (whiting), pinfish, marine species that does not have specific regulations, harvesting more than 100 Atlantic croaker, jack crevalle, cero mackerel, hardhead catfish, gafftopsail catfish, pounds or two fish (whichever is the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity lionfish. and requires a commercial license. This means the recreational harvest limit for any unregulated species is 100 pounds or two organisms if the combined weight of the * No license is required to harvest lionfish by dipnet, pole spear or Hawaiian sling and lionfish bag limit two organisms exceeds 100 pounds. is unlimited for both Gulf and Atlantic state waters .

H Spearing Prohibited l Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com  Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed). T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or u Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most more points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait. forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with X State Reef Fish Angler designation required when fishing for select reef fish spe- the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. cies from a private vessel in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. n State regulations apply in federal waters. Crustaceans and Mollusks

Bay Scallops l Spiny Lobster H  Crab, Stone H n Oysters Season: Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limit: • Gulf County: Aug. 16–Sept. 24 • Carapace must be greater than 3" measured in • 2 7/8" claw • 3" • Franklin-NW Taylor County: July 1–Sept. 24 the water Closed Season: • Dixie and remaining Taylor County: June 15–Labor Day Closed Season: Seasons: • June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. • Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties: July 1–Sept. 24 • May 2–Oct. 14 • Sport Season open July 29–30, 2020 • July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas except • Pasco County: 10 days starting on 3rd Friday in July Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Regular Season opens Aug. 6 through March 31 Apalachicola Bay. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • 1 gal. claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, • Apalachicola Bay: Closed Daily Recreational Bag Limit: whichever is less • 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per harvester; no Sport Season: 6 per harvester per day in Monroe Daily Recreational Bag Limit: more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon meat per • County and Biscayne National Park, 12 in all other Remarks • 2 bags per harvester or vessel except vessel anytime harvest areas. • 5 traps maximum. Visit MyFWC.com for statewide trap Apalachicola Bay • Dixie and remaining Taylor County: From June 15–30, construction requirements and specific requirements • Regular Season: 6 per harvester in all areas one gallon whole/one cup meat per person or five gallons that apply in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier. Illegal Remarks whole/two pints meat per vessel, whichever is less Remarks to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs • Apalachicola Bay: special bag limits and other Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny lobster harvest restrictions apply. See MyFWC.com for Remarks • prohibited. See how to properly de-claw on our permit required when license required. Harvest of website. New trap registration requirements, visit detailed information. • Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of egg-bearing females prohibited. • Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter Mexico from the Pinellas - Pasco county line, to the GoOutdoorsFlorida.com to register. seasons/areas. west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County. • Harvest from approved shellfish areas during Direct transit through closed areas permitted. daylight hours only. • Go to FloridaAquaculture.com to determine the Shrimp  Clams (Hard) l Crab, Blue H Open or Closed status of shellfish harvesting areas. • May not harvest half hour after official sunset until Closed Season: Minimum Size Limits: Closed Season: half hour before official sunrise. • April & May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, • 1" thick across hinge • Regional trap closures apply. Visit MyFWC.com for • 1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell) Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties 2021 trap closure dates and locations. Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Harvest prohibited in any harvest area that is in the Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Closed status as determined by the Florida Depart- • 5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel, (whole in shell) • 10 gallons whole per harvester ment of Agriculture and Consumer Services. whichever is less • Bay County: Harvest and possession prohibited in Remarks Remarks West Bay Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project Zone Remarks • Illegal to harvest from closed areas. • 5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. • Visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing and select "Saltwater", • Go to www.FloridaAquaculture.com for allowable Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited. New trap "Regulations" and "Shrimp" for additional regula- harvesting areas. registration requirements, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida. tions specific to Dade, Nassau and Duval • May not harvest half hour after official sunset until com to register. half hour before official sunrise.

Sharks

Retainable Sharks with a 54" fork length minimum  H T Retainable Sharks with a 83" Blue, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle (not illustrated). fork length minimum  H T

Bull Common Thresher Shortfin Mako Nurse Spinner Retainable Sharks with no minimum size limit  H T Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Finetooth, Smooth Dogfish, Florida Smoothhounds (not illustrated). • 1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less. Remarks • The retainable sharks are managed as a group for bag limit pur- poses. In other words, you can only harvest one shark per day and the shark that you harvest must be one of the retainable species. Atlantic Sharpnose Blacknose • Hook-and-line gear only. • Shore-based Shark Fishing educational course and permit required. • See list of prohibited species below. Bonnethead Blacktip

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, Greater, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Manta Ray, Devil Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Longbill Spearfish, Mediterranean Spearfish, Sturgeon, Queen Conch, Calico Scallop, Stony, Hard, Black 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.