Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations

  • Spearing Prohibited
  • Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed).
  • 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.
  • State regulations apply in federal waters.
  • Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com
  • Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or more points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.

Gulf reef fish survey required when fishing for selected reef species from a private vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.

Issued: June 2019
New regulations are highlighted in red
Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic
(please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational for the most current regulations)

All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except snowy grouper (Duane Raver)

Snapper

General Snapper Regulations:

  • Snapper Aggregate Bag Limit – Within state waters of the Atlantic and Gulf, all species of snapper are included in a 10 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of snapper species, unless stated otherwise.
  • Seasons – If no seasonal information is provided, the species is open year-round.

Snapper, Cubera

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 12″ (see remarks)
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 10 per harvester under 30″, included within snapper aggregate bag limit
  • May additionally harvest up to 2 per harvester or vessel-whichever is less- over 30″, and these 2 fish over 30″ are not included within snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Red

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 20″
  • Gulf – 16″
Season:
  • Atlantic – Open year-round
  • Gulf – Open June 11 – July 12, 2019
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 2 per harvester
  • Gulf – Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Snapper, Vermilion

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 12″
  • Gulf – 10″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 5 per harvester not included within snapper aggregate bag limit
  • Gulf – 10 per harvester not included within snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Lane

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 8″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 10 per harvester
  • Gulf – 100 pounds per harvester, not included within snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Gray (Mangrove)

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 10″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 5 per harvester

Snapper, Mutton

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 18″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 5 per harvester

Snapper, Schoolmaster

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 10″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 10 per harvester

Snapper, Black & Wenchman

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 10 per harvester

Other Snapper

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 12″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 10 per harvester

Remarks

  • Includes: Dog, Mahogany, and Yellowtail
  • No minimum size limit for Blackfin, Queen, and Silk

Grouper

Atlantic Grouper General Regulations:

  • Atlantic grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the Atlantic and all state waters off Monroe County (Gulf and Atlantic sides).
  • Atlantic Grouper Aggregate Bag Limit – all species of grouper plus golden tilefish in the Atlantic are included in a 3 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of grouper/golden tilefish species.
  • Seasons – If no seasonal information is provided, the species is open year-round.

Gulf Grouper General Regulations:

  • Gulf grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the Gulf except off Monroe County (where Atlantic rules apply).
  • Gulf Grouper Aggregate Bag Limit – all species of grouper in the Gulf are included in a 4 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of grouper species.
  • Seasons – If no seasonal information is provided, the species is open year-round.

* Zero bag limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels applies to gag, black, and red grouper only.

Grouper, Black

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 24″
  • Gulf – 24″
Season:
  • Atlantic – Closed Jan. 1–April 30
  • Gulf – Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish can be gag or black
  • Gulf – 4 per harvester*

Grouper, Scamp

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 20″
  • Gulf – 16″
Season:
  • Atlantic – Closed Jan. 1–April 30
  • Gulf – Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 3 per harvester
  • Gulf – 4 per harvester

Grouper, Snowy

Minimum Size Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 1 per harvester
  • Gulf – 4 per harvester

Gag Grouper

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 24″
  • Gulf – 24″
Season:
  • Atlantic – Closed: Jan. 1–April 30
  • Gulf – State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties: Open April 1
    –June 30, & Sept 1–Dec. 31.
  • Gulf – State waters off all other
    counties: Open June 1–Dec. 31
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish can be gag or black
  • Gulf – 2 per harvester*

Grouper, Red

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 20″
Season:
  • Atlantic – Closed Jan. 1–April 30
  • Gulf – Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 3 per harvester
  • Gulf – 2 per Harvester*

Grouper, Warsaw & Speckled Hind

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 1 per vessel per day of each species

Grouper, Yellowfin & Yellowmouth

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 20″
Season:
  • Atlantic – Closed Jan. 1–April 30
  • Gulf – Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 3 per harvester
  • Gulf – 4 per harvester

Other Grouper

Other Grouper includes:
  • Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney and Graysby
Minimum Size Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – None
Season:
  • Atlantic – Closed Jan. 1–April 30
  • Gulf – Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Aggregate bag limits apply

Other Reef Fish

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

Amberjack, Greater

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 28″ fork length
  • Gulf – 34″ fork length
Season:
  • Atlantic – Open year-round
  • Gulf – Open Aug. 1–Oct. 31
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 1 per harvester

Red Porgy

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 14″
  • Gulf – None
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 3 per harvester
  • Gulf – 100 pounds

Great Barracuda

Regulations only apply in Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Not less than 15″ or more than 36″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • 2 per person or 6 per vessel
  • May possess one over 36″ per vessel.
  • Unregulated in all other areas.

Tilefish, Golden

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 1 per harvester
  • Gulf – 4 per harvester
Remarks
  • Golden tilefish included within Atlantic and Gulf Grouper aggregate bag limits

Hogfish

Atlantic regulations apply to Monroe county

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 16″ fork length
  • Gulf – 14″ fork length
Season:
  • Atlantic – Open May 1–Oct. 31
  • Gulf – Open year round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 1 per harvester
  • Gulf – 5 per harvester

Amberjack, Lesser & Banded Rudderfish

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – Cannot be less than 14″ or greater than 22″ fork length
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic and Gulf – 5 per person aggregate of the two species

Triggerfish (Gray)

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 12″ fork length
  • Gulf – 15″ fork length
Season:
  • Atlantic – Open year-round
  • Gulf – Closed
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 10 per harvester
  • Gulf – 1 per harvester

Black Sea Bass

Minimum Size Limits:
  • Atlantic – 13″
  • Gulf – 10″
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
  • Atlantic – 7 per harvester
  • Gulf – 100 pounds per harvester