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Florida Recreational Issued: January 2022

Saltwater Fishing Regulations New regulations are highlighted in red


(please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational
Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic for the most current regulations)
All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except blueline tilefish, golden tilefish and snowy grouper (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC) and crustacean and mollusk art.
Reef Fish
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 ul
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
information is provided, the • May additionally harvest up to 2 over • Gulf - 10 per harvester not included bag limit
30" per harvester or vessel, whichever Daily Recreational Bag Limit: within snapper aggregate bag limit
species is open year-round. • Atlantic and Gulf - 2 per harvester
is less, and these 2 fish over 30" are
not included within snapper aggregate • Gulf - Zero daily bag and possession limit
bag limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Other Snapper ul


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 n Yellowtail ulX
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 Limits:
Minimum Size Limit: Minimum Size Limits:
• Atlantic Grouper/Tilefish • Atlantic - 24" • Atlantic and Gulf - 20"
• Atlantic and Gulf - None • 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 a • Atlantic - Closed Jan. 1–April 30 • Gulf - 4 per harvester • Gulf - Open year-round of each species
3 fish per harvester per • Gulf - Open year-round
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
day aggregate bag limit
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 3 per harvester
in in any combination of
• Atlantic - 1 per harvester. Only 1 fish • Gulf - 2 per Harvester*
species.
can be gag or black
• Seasons – If no seasonal
• Gulf - 4 per harvester*
information is provided, the
species is open year-round.
Gulf Grouper
General Regulations:
• Gulf grouper regulations apply
Grouper, Yellowfin
to all state waters of the Gulf Grouper, Scamp  u l Gag Grouper  u l X & Yellowmouth ul 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,
day aggregate bag limit in • Gulf - Open year-round • Gulf - State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Graysby: Closed Jan. 1-April 30
Jefferson and Taylor counties: Open April 1 Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - All others open year-round
any combination of grouper Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Atlantic - 3 per harvester
species. –June 30, & Sept 1–Dec. 31. • Gulf - Open year-round
• Atlantic - 3 per harvester • Gulf - 4 per harvester
• Seasons – If no seasonal • Gulf - State waters off all other
• Gulf - 4 per harvester Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
information is provided, the counties: Open June 1–Dec. 31
• 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*
All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except blueline tilefish and golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC)
Reef Fish
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, Aug.
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Season:
1–Oct. 31 • Gulf - Open year-round 1-Dec. 31
• 2 per person or 6 per vessel • Atlantic - Open May 1–Oct. 31
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks • May possess one over 36" per vessel. • Gulf - Open year round Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
• Atlantic and Gulf - 1 per harvester • Blueline tilefish included within Atlantic • Unregulated in all other areas. • Atlantic - 10 per harvester
grouper aggregate bag limits Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • Gulf - 1 per harvester
• Atlantic - 1 per harvester
• Gulf - 5 per harvester

Amberjack, Lesser & Pompano,


Red Porgy  u l Tilefish, Golden  l Banded Rudderfish  l X Black Sea Bass ul African HTnl
Minimum Size Limits: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
• Atlantic - 14" • Atlantic - 1 per harvester • Atlantic and Gulf - Cannot be less than • Atlantic - 13" • 24" fork length
• Gulf - None • Gulf - 100 pounds or 2 per person, 14" or greater than 22" fork length • Gulf - 10"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
whichever is greater
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • 2 per harvester per day, not to exceed
• Atlantic - 3 per harvester Remarks • Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person • Atlantic - 7 per harvester 2 per vessel
• 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
• White Marlin 66"; Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
if head removed
• 2 fish per person or 10 fish per vessel • Atlantic (excluding Monroe) - 2 per • 15 per harvester
• Roundscale Spearfish 66"
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
• Gulf - 1 per harvester, not to exceed Remarks 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.

Buy your license online at


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

Atlantic Croaker
Bluefish  n Flounder  u T n Bonefish H n and Spot 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 • 14" • 0 per harvester • None • 12"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
• Atlantic - 3 per harvester • 5 per harvester • Catch and release only • Atlantic - 50 per harvester per species • 8 per harvester
• Gulf - 10 per harvester (includes • Hook and line only (excludes Monroe County)
Monroe County) Closed Season: Remarks
• Gulf - 100lbs per harvester (including
• Oct. 15 – Nov. 30 • Snatching prohibited
Monroe County)
• Vessel limit of 50 fish during March
Remarks and April
• May be harvested by spearing.
Spotted Snatching prohibited.
Seatrout l H u T n
Snook
Size Limits: Weakfish Hu (All species)  H u T n Tarpon lHTn
• Not less than 15" or more than 19"
• May not possess more than 1 over Minimum Size Limits: Size Limits: Recreational Bag Limit:
19" per vessel • Weakfish Management Area (WMA) in • Not less than 28" or more than 32" • 1 per harvester per year. $50 harvest
Nassau County - 12" Atlantic excluding Monroe tag required. Vessel limit of one fish.
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • All other areas - no minimum • Not less than 28" or more than 33" Harvest tag can only be used when fish
• 3 per harvester per day W.P. Zone Permit l H Tn Gulf and Monroe County is retained for potential IGFA record.
• 5 per harvester per day B.B. Zone Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
• 3 per harvester per day S. Zone Size Limits: • WMA - 1 per harvester Closed Season: Remarks
• 2 per harvester per day C.E. Zone • 22" fork Special Permit Zone (SPZ); • All other areas - 100 pounds per • Atlantic (excluding Monroe) closed • Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in
• 5 per harvester per day N.E Zone Not less than 11" or more than 22" harvester Dec. 15–Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31. the water during release. Spearing and
fork length all other areas • Gulf including Monroe County, Dec. 1– snatch hooking prohibited. Bottom
Closed Season: Remarks
end of February, and May 1–Aug. 31. weighted jigs prohibited in Boca Grande
• Feb. W.P. Zone Closed Season: • Regulations apply in parts of Nassau
Pass. See: MyFWC.com/Fishing/
• Nov. - Dec. C.E. Zone • April 1–July 31 SPZ Only County only. Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Saltwater/Recreational/Tarpon for
• See map at: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Salt- • 1 per harvester
Remarks Daily Recreational Bag Limit: additional information.
water/Recreational/Weakfish
• 6 fish vessel limit south of state road 64 • 1 per harvester, not to exceed 2 per Remarks
(Manatee County) through Gordon Pass vessel SPZ; • Catch-and-release only from SR 64
(Collier County) through May 31, 2022 • 2 per harvester all other state waters (Manatee County) south through
• See management zone map on pg. 9 Gordon Pass (Collier County)
Remarks
• Zero bag limit for captain and crew • Snook permit required for harvest
• May possess 1 over 22" fork length
of for-hire vessels when saltwater license required. See
outside the SPZ, not to exceed 2 over
• For current regulations see MyFWC.com MyFWC.com for snook permit details.
22" fork per vessel per day. For map of
Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited.
SPZ, please see: MyFWC.com. Red Drum
• Zero daily bag and possession limit for
• Zero daily bag and possession limit for
captain and crew on for-hire vessels
captain and crew on for-hire vessels (Redfish) HuT
Size Limits:
• Not less than 18" or more than 27"
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
• 2 per harvester per day in the NE zone,
Mullet, Striped and 1 per harvester in the NW and S
Black Drum  u T n Pompano, Florida H T n (Black) & Silver Blue Runner n zone. See map on p. 6
• Off the water possession limit of 6 fish
Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits: Minimum Size Limits:
• Not less than 14" or more than 24" • 11" fork length • No minimum size • No minimum Remarks
• Catch-and-release only from SR 64
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Daily Recreational Bag Limit: (Manatee County) south through
• 5 per harvester • 6 per harvester • 50 aggregate per harvester; • 100 fish per harvester Gordon Pass (Collier County) through
• Aggregate vessel limits May 31, 2022
Remarks Remarks
Feb. 1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel; • Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.
• May possess one over 24". Snatching • Hook and line, cast net and beach or
Sept. 1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel Harvest in Federal waters prohibited.
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:
marine species that does not have specific regulations, harvesting more than 100 Ladyfish, bonito, menhaden, white grunt, southern stingray, gulf kingfish (whiting), pinfish,
pounds or two fish (whichever is the greater amount) constitutes a commercial quantity jack crevalle, cero mackerel, hardhead catfish, gafftopsail catfish, 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
the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side. species 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: Closed Season:
• Dixie and remaining Taylor County: June 15–Labor Day
Seasons: • May 2–Oct. 14 • June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties.
• Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties: July 1–Sept. 24
• Sport Season open July 27–28, 2022 • 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.
• 1 gal. claws per harvester or 2 gal. per vessel, • Apalachicola Bay: Closed
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
• 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per harvester; no Daily Recreational Bag Limit: whichever is less
• Sport Season: 6 per harvester per day in Monroe Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon meat per Remarks
County and Biscayne National Park, 12 in all other • 2 bags per harvester or vessel except
vessel anytime • 5 traps maximum. Visit MyFWC.com for statewide trap
harvest areas. 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 • Harvest from approved shellfish areas during
to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs
• Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny lobster prohibited. See how to properly de-claw on our daylight hours only.
Remarks
permit required when license required. Harvest of • Go to FloridaAquaculture.com to determine the
website. New trap registration requirements, visit
• Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of
egg-bearing females prohibited. GoOutdoorsFlorida.com to register. Open or Closed status of shellfish harvesting areas.
Mexico from the Pinellas - Pasco county line, to the
• May not harvest half hour after official sunset until
west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.
half hour before official sunrise.
Direct transit through closed areas permitted.
• 1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell)
• Harvest prohibited in any harvest area that is in the
Shrimp  Clams (Hard) l Crab, Blue H Closed status as determined by the Florida Depart-
ment of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Closed Season: Minimum Size Limits: Closed Season: • Bay County: Harvest and possession prohibited in
• April & May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, • 1" thick across hinge • Regional trap closures apply. Visit MyFWC.com for West Bay Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project Zone
Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties 2022 trap closure dates and locations.
Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • One 5 gal. bucket per harvester or 2 per vessel Daily Recreational Bag Limit:
• 5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel, (whole in shell) • 10 gallons whole per harvester
whichever is less
Remarks Remarks
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 harvesting areas. registration requirements, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.
regulations specific to Dade, Nassau and Duval • May not harvest half hour after official sunset until com to register.
• See 68B-31 F.A.C for more information on areas half hour before official sunrise.
closed to shrimping

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 and Gulf 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.

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