Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations

Field Office Locatons
Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations
What you must know before you go.
You Do Not Need a License If You Are:
Costs
Recreational Gear
Limits
Spearing

The Division of Law Enforcement (DLE)
The Division of Law Enforcement patrols Florida's coastal waters to provide assistance to boaters and anglers as well as to enforce Florida's saltwater fishing and boating laws. FWC officers assist boaters who are in distress, provide advice and direction to those who are traveling Florida's coastline and waterways, and may issue citations for violations of state and federal fishing, wildlife and boating laws.

Tallahassee Headquarters
Bureau of Field Operations, 850-488-9924

For Saltwater Fishing and Boating Questions, Contact the Nearest Regional Field Office Below:

Northeast Region
Ocala, 352-732-1225 Titusville, 321-383-2740

South Region
Miami, 305-956-2500
West Palm Beach, 561-625-5122
Jupiter, 561-624-6935

Special Enforcement Area
Marathon, 305-289-2320

Southwest Region
Tampa, 813-272-2516
Lakeland, 863-648-3203
Fort Myers, 239-332-6971

North Central Region
Jacksonville, 904-270-2500
Lake City, 386-758-0529
Crystal River, 352-447-1633

Northwest Region
Panama City, 850-233-5150
Carrabelle, 850-697-3741
Penasacola, 850-595-8978

In emergencies or if state fisheries, wildlife, or boating laws are being violated--call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or for cellular phone user throughout the state, dial #FWC or *FWC depending on your location, or hailed on VHF Channel 16.

RESOURCE HOTLINES

Marine Fish Kills: 800-636-0511
Enviro-Line: 800-828-9338
To Purchase Fishing Licenses: 888-347-4356
Division of Law Enforcement: 888-404-3922
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 727-896-8626 www.floridamarine.org
Fish Tags: 800-367-4461
TO REPORT WILDLIFE LAW VIOLATIONS, call Wildlife Alert Network, 888-404-FWCC (3922)

FOR CURRENT FEDERAL REGULATUIONS AND INFORMATION

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council www.gulfcouncil.org
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council www.safmc.net
National Marine Fisheries Service www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations

This is a brief summary of regulations governing the taking of saltwater species in Florida for personal use. It is not intended, or designed to provide specific information on commercial harvesting of these species. The failure to include complete laws, rules, and regulations in this summary does not relieve persons form abiding by 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 person, 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.

Greater Amberjack
Min. size 28” fork
Bag limit, 1 per person per day

Lesser Amberjack, Banded Rudderfish
Size limit, not less than 14” or more than 22” fork
Bag limit, 5 aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish

Billfish
Minimum size: Sailfish 63”, Blue Marlin 99”, White Marlin 66”
Bag limit, 1 per person per day aggregate bag limit
Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. Federal regulations apply to state waters. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours. 800-894-5528

Black Drum
Size limit, not less than 14”, or more than 24”
Bag limit, 5 per person per day
May posses one over 24”

Bluefish
Min. size, 12”, fork
Bag limit, 10 per person per day

Bonefish
Min. size, 18”
Bag limit, 1 per person per day

Clams-Hard
Min. size, 1” thick across hinge
May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise Bag limit, one 5-gallon bucket per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less per day. Illegal to harvest form closed areas. Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.

Cobia (Ling)
Min. size, 33” fork
Bag limit, 1 per person or 6 per vessel per day whichever is less
A saltwater products license and restricted species endorsement are needed to sell cobia or exceed the one-fish daily bag limit.

Crab-Blue
Closed season, Sept. 20-Oct. 4, traps only. NW of Suwannee River and beyond 3 miles Bag limit, 10 gallons whole per day.
5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.

Crab-Stone
Min. size, 2 ¾” claw
Closed May 16-Oct. 14
Bag limit, 1 gal. Stone Crab claws per person 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)
Min. size, 3” carapace, measured in the water
Closed April 1-Aug 5, exception: Sport Season, last consectutive Wed & Thur. Of July each year.
Bag limit, 6 per person per day.
Recreational trapping prohibited. Crawfish permit requitred when license required. Specail bag limit for 2-day Sport Season. Call DLE for current information on Sport Season.

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Min. Size, 20” fork, Atlantic
Bag limit, 10 per person, per day. 10 per person or 60 per vessel--Atlantic

Flounder
Min. size, 12”
Bag limit, 10 per person per day
May be harvested by spearing

Grouper-Black & Gag
Min. size, 24” Atlantic & Monroe County, 22” Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Bag limit 2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County. 5 per person per day Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Incuded in the daily Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Grouper-Red, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth
Min. size, 20”
Bag limit, Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Grouper-Scamp
Min. size, 20” Atlantic & Monroe County, 16” Gulf (excluding Monroe County)
Bag limit, Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Grouper-Warsaw, Speckled Hind
Bag limit, 1 per vessel per day of each species.
Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Grouper-All Others
Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Includes: Coney, Graysby, Misty, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Snowy, Tiger, Yellowedge.

Hogfish
Min. size, 12” fork
Bag limit, 5 per person per day

Mackerel-King
Min. size, 24” fork
Bag limit, 2 per person per day
Bag limit in Gulf-Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when federal waters are closed to harvest. Call DLE for details.

Mackerel-Spanish
Min. size, 12” fork
Bag limit, 15 per person per day
Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited

Mullet-Striped (Black) & Silver
Bag limit, Feb. 1-Aug. 31, 50 per person per day. Aggregate of striped and silver mullet. Maximum 100 aggregate per vessel.
Sept. 1-Jan. 31, 50 per person or per vessel. Contact DLE for additional restrictions in Pinellas & Charlotte Counties.

Oysters
Min. size, 3”
Closed June, July Aug in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. July, Aug, Sept in all other areas.
Bag limit, 2 bags per person 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 form approved shellfish areas only. Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.

Permit & Pompano
Size limit, Not less than 11” or more than 20” fork
Bag limit, 6 per person per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano
May possess one over 20” of either Permit or Pompano. Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.

Pompano-African
Min. size, 24” fork
Bag limit, 2 per person or per vessel per day whichever is less
Hook & line gear only.

Red Drum (Redfish)
Size limit, Not less than 18” or more than 27”
Bag limit, 1 per person per day
Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.

Red Porgy
Min. size, 14” Atlantic
Bag limit, 1 per person per day Atlantic

Scallops-Bay
Closed, Sept 11-June 30
Bag limit, 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per person 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-lattitude 28 degree, 26.016 minutes North) to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County, Longitude 35 degrees, 25.84 minutes West). Any bay scallops harvested or possessed must be landed within the allowable harvest areas.

Sea Bass-Black
Min. size, 10”
Bag limit, 20 per person per day – Atlantic

Shad
Bag limit, 10 aggregate per person per day
American, Alabama, Hickory are part of aggregate limit. Hook and line gear only.

Shark
Bag limit, 1 per person or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less
Practice of finning and filleting at sea is prohibited. See below for protected species.

Sheepshead
Min. size, 12”
Bag limit, 15 per person per day
Measured from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail

Shrimp
Closed, April & May to Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam Flagler & Clay counties Bag limit, 5 gallons heads on per person or vessel per day, whichever is less
Must be landed in a whole condition. Contact DLE for closed areas.

Snapper-Black & Wenchman
Bag limit, included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper-Cubera
Size limit, not less than 12” or more than 30”
Bag limit, included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit if under 30”
Allowed 2 Cubera snapper over 30” per person or vessel per day, whichever is less. 30” or larger not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper-Gray (Mangrove)
Min. size, 10”
Bag limit, 5 per person per day
Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper-Lane
Min. size, 8”
Bag limit, included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit if harvested from Atlantic.

Snapper-Mutton
Min. size, 16”
Bag limit, included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper-Red
Min. size, 20” Atlantic, 16” Gulf
Closed, Nov. 1-April 14, Gulf only.
Bag limit, 2 per person/day Atlantic. 4 per person/day Gulf
Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper-Schoolmaster
Min. size, 10”
Bag limit, included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper-Vermilion
Min. size, 10”
Bag limit, 10 per person per day--Atlantic
NOT included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper-All other
Min. size, 12”
Bag limit, included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Includes Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk and Yellowtail

Snook (all species)
Size limit, not less than 26” or more than 34”
Closed Dec 15-Jan. 31 statewide. June, July Aug—Atlantic. May, June July, Aug—Gulf, Monroe County and Everglades National Park.
Bag limit, 2 per person per day—Atlantic. 1 per person per day—Gulf, Monroe County and Everglades National Park.
Snook permit required when saltwater license required. State regulations apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook

Sponge-Commercial
Size limit, greater than 5” in greatest dimension measured across the top of the sponge.
Bag limt, 10 per person per day.
Includes sheepswool, yellow, grass, glove, finger, wire, reef & velvet sponge.

Spotted Seatrout
Size limit, not less than 15” or more than 20” statewide. One fish over 20” per person
Closed, February—NE and NW regions. Nov. & Dec.—South Region.
Bag limits, NE & NW regions—5 per person per day. South Region—4 per person per day.

Swordfish
Min. size, 47” lower jaw fork length
Bag limit, 1 per person, or 3 per vessel whichever is less.
Lower jaw fork length is the straight-line measurement form the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours. 800-894-5528

Tarpon
Bag limit, 2 fish possession limit.
Requires $50 tarpon tag to posess or harvest. Snatching prohibited.

Triggerfish-Gray
Min. size, 12”
All species of triggerfish except Gray and Ocean have live landing & live well requirements

Tripletail
Min. size, 15”
Bag limit, 2 per person per day.
Hook and line gear only. (no snatch hooks)

Wahoo
Bag limit, 2 per person per day

Weakfish
Min. size, 12”
Bag limit, 4 per person per day.

Saltwater Fishing in Florida...

Saltwater licenses are sold at all county tax collectors’ offices ans at many bait-and-tackle shops. Licenses may also be obtained over the telephone by dialing toll free, 1-888-347-4356. For those with Internet access, licenses are now available at MyFWC.com/Marine. An additional fee is charged for these services. For any additional information not contained in this publication, please call your local county tax collector’s office.

Florida Residents
When applying for a saltwater fishing license, you are considered to be a Florida Resident if you are:

-- Any person who has resided in Florida for six continuous months prior to applying for a resident license and who claims Florida as their primary residence.

-- Any member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is stationed in this state.

-- Gold Sportsman’s License (One-Year License includes Hunting, Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing Licenses; and Type I Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook, Crawfish Permits)… $83.50. Florida residents may buy a lifetime saltwater fishing license or a lifetime sportsman license. Holders of lifetime saltwater fishing licenses may fish in saltwater for life and will pay no additional fees. The lifetime license includes the taking of snook or crawfish – which would otherwise require a separate fee. A lifetime sportsman license allows holders to fish in freshwater or saltwater and to hunt in Florida. Both of these licenses require holders to obey fishing or hunting laws in effect at any given time.

Costs for these types of licenses

Florida Resident Licenses
One-Year License, $13.50
Gold Sportsman’s License, $83.50

Combination Licenses (Florida Residents Only)
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater, $22.50
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater & Hunting $33.50

Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License (Florida Residents Only)
Age: 0-4, $126.50
Age: 5-12, $226.50
Age: 13 or older, $301.50

Lifetime Sportsman License (Florida Residents Only)
Age: 0-4, $401.50
Age: 5-12, $701.50
Age: 13 or older, $1,001.50

Non-Resident Licenses
Three-Day License, $6.50
Seven-Day License, $16.50
One-Year License, $31.50

Additional Privilege Permit
Snook Permit, $2.00
Five-Year Snook Permit, $10.00
Crawfish Permit, $2.00
Five-Year Crawfish Permit, $10.00

If you are not required to buy a license, you are not required to buy permits

You Do Not Need a License If You Are:

-- A child under 16 years of age.

-- A Florida resident saltwater fishing for recreational purposes from land or a structure fixed to the land--a pier, bridge, dock, floating dock, jetty or similar structure.

-- Fishing from a for-hire vessel--guide, charter, party boat--that has a valid vessel license.

-- A holder of a valid saltwater products license.

-- A Florida resident--65 years old or older and you possess either a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate or proof of age and residency.

-- A Florida resident who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, who is not stationed in this state, while on leave for 30 days or less, upon submission of orders. This does not include family members.

-- Any person who has been accepted as a client for development services by the Department of Children and Family Services, provided the department furnishes proof thereof.

-- A nonresident fishing for recreational purposes from a pier that has a valid pier saltwater fishing license.

-- Fishing from a boat that has a valid recreational vessel saltwater fishing license.

-- A Florida resident who is fishing for mullet in freshwater--with a valid Florida freshwater license.

-- A Florida resident fishing for saltwater fish in freshwater from land or from a structure fixed to the land.

-- A Florida resident certified as totally and permanently disabled, who possesses a Florida Resident Disabled Person Hunting and Fishing Certificate. Applicants need to provide a certification of total and permanent disability from the United Stases Armed Forces, Railroad Retirement Board, Florida Worker's Compensation or the United States Veterans Administration. Alternatively, current documentation for the Social Security Administration for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits also will be accepted.

Recreational Gear

Additional regional gear restrictions may apply in your county. Call the local DLE offices listed here.

Hook-and-Line Gear

Hook-and-line anglers must tend their gear at all times to prevent people, marine life, and shore life from becoming entangled in the line or injured by the hook. Also, it is against the law to intentionally discard any monofilament netting or line into or onto state waters. Monofilament line can entangle birds, marine mammals, marine turtles, and fish, often injuring or killing them.

Nets

The following types of nets may be used for recreational purposes in Florida waters:

-- Bully nets (for lobster only) no greater than 3 feet in diameter.

-- Frame nets and push nets (for shrimp only) no greater than 16 feet in perimeter.

-- Hand held landing or dip nets no greater than 96 inches in perimeter.

-- Cast nets measuring 14 feet or less stretched length (stretched length is defined as the distance from the horn at the center of the net with the net gathered and pulled taut, to the lead line). Cast nets may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, weakfish, and unregulated species.

-- Beach or haul seines measuring no larger than 500 square feet of mesh area, no larger than 2 inches stretched mesh size, not constructed of monofilament, and legibly marked at both ends with the harvester’s name and address, if a Florida resident. Non-residents using beach or haul seines for recreational purposes are required to have a commercial saltwater products license and legibly mark the seine at both ends with the harvester’s saltwater products license number. Beach or haul seines may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout, weakfish, and unregulated species.

Explosives, etc.

The use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals, or the discharge of firearms into the water to kill or harvest marine life is prohibited in state waters.

Points on Possesion
Posession Limits for Multiple Day Recreational Fishing Trips

Many anglers are unsure or unaware of how bag and possession limits affect them during fishing trips which exceed one fishing day. Bag limits are daily limits for the 24 hour period beginning at midnight and ending the following midnight. These bag limits may not be exceeded at any time and are not considered "per trip" limits. What's important in this definition is that once you have caught and possess the bag limit for a species, you may not harvest any more of this species until the next daily period. Taking the catch to shore and then going back to harvest another daily bag limit is illegal.

But what if you were fishing in the Bahamas? In this instance, you are subject to the environmental laws of the Bahamas and a violation of their rules may constitute a violation of U.S. Federal laws. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard and Bahamian officials for current information

Or what about camping on an island in state waters? Are you able to possess an equal number of bag limits as the number of days fished? In this case you are restricted to one daily bag limit regardless of the number of days fished.

Other scenarios might be that you are camping on the mainland, staying in a motel, at your beach house, in transit over land from an extended fishing trip, etc. Under these circumstances, the possession of multiple daily bag limits depends on the species you intend to keep and more importantly, the location where you possess the fish. The following table provides you with the information needed to:

1) determine whether or not you can possess more than one daily bag limit (on land) for an individual species when fishing for multiple days

2) the locations where it would be prohibited to possess the fish in excess of one daily bag limit

Tarpon - has no daily bag limit, but it is illegal to posses more than two tarpon at any time. Any tarpon possessed must have tarpon tag affixed.

Reef fish (snappers and groupers included within the aggregate bag limit, hogfish, Atlantic coast red porgy, and Atlantic coast black sea bass)- Any person who has fished for more than one day may possess double the daily bag limit once such person has departed the fishing site and is no longer within 100 yards of any state waters, docks, fishing piers, or other fishing sites. Additionally, any person who has fished aboard a charter vessel or headboat on a trip that spans more than 24 hours may possess double the daily bag limit provided that the vessel has a sleeping berth for each passenger aboard the vessel and each passenger possesses a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the length of the trip.

If further clarification is required, please contact your regional FWC office.

Spearing

Spearing is defined as "the catching or taking of a fish by bowhunting, gigging, spearfishing, or any device used to capture a fish by piercing its body. Spearing does not include the catching or taking of a fish by a hook with hook and line gear or by snagging (snatch hooking)". The use of powerheads, bangsticks, and rebreathers remains prohibited. The following is a list of species which are prohibited for harvest by spearing. Any other species not listed which are managed by the Commission, and those not managed by the Commission are allowed to be harvested by spearing:

Billfish (all species), Bonefish, Nassau Grouper, Pompano, Spotted Eagle Ray, Tarpon, Spotted Seatrout, African Pompano, Sturgeon, Goliath Grouper, Red Drum, Permit , Manta Ray, Snook, Weakfish, Tripletail, Sharks, Blue Crab, Stone Crab, Lobster. Also: Families of ornamental reef fish (surgeonfish, trumpetfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, porcupinefish, cornetfish, squirrelfish, trunkfish, damselfish, parrotfish, pipefish, seahorse, puffers, triggerfish except gray and ocean)

You May NOT Spearfish (excluding bowhunting and gigging):

-- Effective July 1, 2001, Spearfishing of marine and freshwater species in freshwater is prohibited. Possesion of a spear gun in or on freshwater is also prohibited.

-- Within 100 yards of a public swimming beach, any commercial or public fishing pier, or any part of a bridge from which public fishing is allowed.

-- Within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea--except for the last 500 yards of a jetty that extends more than 1,500 yards from the shoreline.

-- In Collier County and in Monroe County from Long Key north to the Dade County line.

-- For any fish for which spearing is expressly prohibited by law.

-- In any body of water under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks. (Possession of spearfishing equipment is prohibited in these areas, unless it is unloaded and properly stored.) Fishermen who catch and/or sell fish harvested by spearing are subject to the same rules and limitations that other fishermen in the state are required to follow.