Rules & Regulations

Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations This brief summary of regulations governs the taking of saltwater species in Florida State Waters for personal use. It is not applicable to the commercial harvesting of these species. The absence of complete laws, rules and regulations in this summary does not relieve persons from compliance with those laws, rules or regulations. State waters extend to 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic and 9 nautical miles on the Gulf. Federal rules apply beyond state waters. For species that do not have an established bag limit, more than 100 pounds or 2 fish per harvester per day (whichever is greater), is considered commercial quantities. A saltwater products license and commercial vessel registration is required to harvest commercial quantities of unregulated species. It is illegal to sell recreationally harvested fish without compliance with commercial license requirements. Issue Thirty Two, Jan. 2008
Species	Minimum Size Limits	Closed Season	Daily Rec. Bag Limit	Remarks
Amberjack - Greater 	28” fork		1 per harvester per day
Amberjack - Lesser & Banded Rudderfish 	Not less than 14” or more than 22” fork		5 aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish
Billfish 	Sailfish 63” Blue Marlin 99” White Marlin 66”		1 per harvester per day aggregate bag limit	Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required in federal waters.
Black Drum T	Not less than 14” or more than 24”		5 per harvester per day	May possess one over 24”.
Bluefish 	12” fork		10 per harvester per day
Bonefish 	18”		1 per harvester per day
Clams-Hard	1” thick across hinge	May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise	One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel, whichever is less per day (whole in shell)	Illegal to harvest from closed areas. Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.
Cobia (Ling) 	33” fork		1 per harvester or 6 per vessel per day whichever is less	To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations.
Crab-Blue		Sept 20 - Oct 4 Gulf state waters beyond 3 miles closed to traps; federal waters closed to traps	10 gallons whole per harvester per day	5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Crab-Blue Land		July 1–Oct 31	20 per harvester per day	Trapping prohibited, harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited, harvest prohibited in state parks and from the right-of-way of federal, state or county maintained roads.
Crab-Stone	2 3/4” claw	May 16–Oct 14	1 gal. Stone Crab claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, whichever is less	5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Crawfish  (Spiny Lobster)	Larger than 3” carapace measured in the water	April 1–Aug 5 Exception: Sport Season - last consecutive Wed & Thurs of July each year	Regular season: 6 per harvester per day	Recreational trapping prohibited. Crawfish permit required when license required. Special bag limit for 2-day Sport Season. Contact FWC regional office for current information on Sport season.
Dolphin 	20” fork Atlantic		10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day	To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations.
Flounder T	12”		10 per harvester per day	May be harvested by spearing. Snatching prohibited.
Grouper-Black & Gag	24” Atlantic & Monroe County; 22” Gulf (excluding Monroe County)		2 per harvester per day Atlantic & Monroe County; 5 per harvester per day Gulf (excluding Monroe County)	Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit. Gulf—zero daily bag and possession limit for captain & crew on for-hire vessels.
Grouper-Red	20”		1 per harvester per day Gulf	Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit. Gulf—zero daily bag and possession limit for captain & crew on for-hire vessels.
Grouper-Snowy			1 per harvester per day Atlantic	Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Grouper- Yellowfin & Yellowmouth	20”			Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper-Scamp	20” Atlantic & Monroe County; 16” Gulf (excluding Monroe County)			Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper-Warsaw  & Speckled Hind			1 per vessel per day of each species	Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Grouper-all others 				Includes: Coney, Graysby, Misty, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Tiger & Yellowedge. Included within 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Hogfish 	12” fork		5 per harvester per day
Mackerel-King 	24” fork		2 per harvester per day	Bag limit in Gulf-Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call SW Regional Office for details.
Mackerel-Spanish 	12” fork		15 per harvester per day	Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited.
Mullet-Striped (Black) & Silver			50 aggregate per harvester per day, aggregate vessel limits: Feb 1 – Aug 31, 100 per vessel; Sept 1 – Jan 31, 50 per vessel	Mullet aggregate bag limit includes Striped and Silver. Call DMFM for additional restrictions in Pinellas and Charlotte counties.
Oysters	3”	June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas	2 bags per harvester or vessel, whichever is less per day. 1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell)	Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas. Harvest from approved shellfish areas only. Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.
Permit & Pompano  T	Not less than 11” or more than 20” fork		6 per harvester per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano	May possess one over 20” of either Permit or Pompano. Vessel restriction: no more than 2 permit and pompano over 20” fork length at any time in any combination. Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.
Pompano-African  T	Not less than 24” fork		2 fish per harvester or per vessel per day whichever is less	Hook & line gear only.
Red Drum (Redfish) T	Not less than 18” or more than 27”		1 per harvester per day	Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.
Red Porgy	14” Atlantic		3 per harvester per day Atlantic
Scallops-Bay		Sept 11–June 30	2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per harvester per day, no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon meat per vessel anytime	Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line (near Aripeka-latitude 28 degrees,26.016 minutes North), to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County (longitude 85 degrees, 25.84 minutes West). Any bay scallops harvested and possessed must be landed within the allowable harvesting area.

Jan. 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Sea Bass-Black 12” Atlantic; 10” Gulf 15 per harvester per day Atlantic Shad 10 aggregate per harvester per day American, Alabama & Hickory are part of aggregate limit. Hook & line gear only.
Shark 1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited. See list below for prohibited species.
Sheepshead T 12” 15 per harvester per day Snatching prohibited.
Shrimp April & May closed to Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties 5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less Must be landed in a whole condition. Contact FWC Regional Office for closed areas.
Snapper-Black & Wenchman  Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
Snapper-Cubera Not less than 12” or more than 30” (see remarks) Included within 10 per harvester per day snapper aggregate bag limit if under 30” Allowed 2 Cubera Snapper over 30” per harvester or vessel per day which ever is less. 30” or larger not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-Gray (Mangrove) 10” 5 per harvester per day Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-Lane 8” Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit Atlantic Not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit Gulf.
Snapper-Mutton 16” Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
Snapper-Red 20” Atlantic; 16” Gulf Nov 1–April 14 Gulf Only 2 per harvester per day Atlantic; 4 per harvester per day Gulf Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. Note: Changes proposed. Check www.MyFWC.com/marine for most current regulations prior to fishing.
SnapperSchoolmaster 10” Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
SnapperVermilion 12” Atlantic; 10” Gulf 10 per harvester per day Vermilion Snapper not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapperall other 12” Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk & Yellowtail.
Snook T (All species) Not less than 28” or more than 32” Atlantic; Not less than 28” or more than 33” Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park Dec. 15–Jan. 31, June–Aug. Atlantic; Dec.–Feb., May–Aug. Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park 1 per harvester per day Snook permit required when saltwater license required. State regulations apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited.
Sponge- Commercial Greater than 5” in greatest dimension measured across the top of the sponge 10 per harvester per day Includes: Sheepswool, Yellow, Grass, Glove, Finger, Wire, Reef & Velvet sponge.
Spotted Seatrout T Not less than 15” or more than 20” (statewide) except one fish over 20” per person Nov & Dec S. Region; Feb N.E. and N.W. Regions (See regional definitions below) 4 per harvester per day South Region; 5 per harvester per day N.E. and N.W. Regions (See regional definitions below)
Swordfish 47” lower jaw fork length, 29” cleithrum to keel length, or 33 pounds dressed weight 1 per harvester or 3 per vessel whichever is less All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required in federal waters.
Tarpon 2 fish possession limit Requires $50 tarpon tag to posses or harvest. Snatching prohibited. Boca Grande Pass has seasonal regulations. Contact DMFM for current information.
Tilefish—Golden 1 per harvester per day Atlantic Included within the 5 per harvester per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Triggerfish (Gray)  12” fork Triggerfish except Gray and Ocean have live landing & live well requirements.
Tripletail T 15” 2 per harvester per day Hook & line gear only. No snatch hooks.
Wahoo  2 per harvester per day To sell or exceed the daily bag limit follow commercial regulations.
Weakfish T 12” 4 per harvester per day  Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads & tails intact)  Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait. ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL FISH AND PLANTS MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT (Total length) Spanish Hogfish 2” Spotfin Hogfish 3” Porkfish 1½” MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT (Total length) Angelfish (except Rock Beauty) 8” Butterflyfish, Jawfish 4” Rock Beauty 5” Gobies 2” Spanish Hogfish 8” Spotfin Hogfish 8” BAG LIMIT Fishes / Invertebrates: 20 per person per day. No more than 5 Angelfish and no more than 6 Octocoral colonies PLANTS: 1 gallon per person per day Live landing and live well requirements. Harvest in Biscayne National Park & John Pennekamp State Park prohibited. PROHIBITED SPECIES It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange the following species: Nassau Grouper, Goliath Grouper (Jewfish), Sawfish, Atlantic Angel Shark, Bigeye Sixgill Shark, Bigeye Thresher Shark, Bignose Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Dusky, Galapagos Shark, Longfin Mako Shark, Narrowtooth Shark, Night Shark, Sevengill Shark, Sixgill Shark, Smalltail Shark, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon, White Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Manta Ray, Spiny Dogfish, Longspine Urchin, Stony, Hard and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Florida Queen Conch and Bahama Starfish. Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited. FWC REGIONAL OFFICES Northwest Region Panama City (850) 265-3676 - North Central Region Lake City (386) 758-0525 - Northeast Region Ocala (352) 732-1225 - Southwest Region Lakeland (863) 648-3200 - South Region West Palm Beach (561) 625-5122 SEATROUT REGIONS “Northeast Region” means all state waters lying north of the Flagler-Volusia County Line to the Florida-Georgia border, and adjacent federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters. “Northwest Region” means all state waters north and west of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway (28E9.350’N 82E48.398’W), which is approximately 1.17 nautical miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas County Line to the Florida-Alabama border, and adjacent federal EEZ waters. “South Region” means state waters lying between the Flagler-Volusia County Line on the Atlantic Ocean and the southern boundary of the Northwest Region on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County and adjacent federal EEZ waters. Harvester—Regardless of what species you are fishing for, bag limits are only for properly licensed individuals and those people exempt from licensing requirements who are actively harvesting, and those people harvesting may not exceed the individual bag limit and take someone else’s bag limit. That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits. IF

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Jan. 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008


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