Can I Keep?Florida Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)
Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 104 saltwater species in Florida, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.
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Official Florida regulations · Saltwater fishing license
Inshore
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Pompano | Minimum Size Limit: 24" fork length | 2 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Black Drum | Slot Limit: 14-24" with one fish over 24" | Daily Bag Limit: 5 per harvester per day (can include one over 24") | Season: Open year-round |
| Bonefish | — | — | — |
| Florida Pompano | Minimum Size Limit: 11" fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 6 per harvester | Season: Open year-round |
| Flounder | Minimum Size Limit: 14" total length | Daily Bag Limit: 5 per person | Seasonal Closure: Closed annually from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30. |
| Mullet | Minimum Size Limit: None | 50 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Permit (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 22" fork length | 1 per person | Season: Closed April 1-July 31 |
| Red Drum (9 rules) | Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit" | Season: Open year-round |
| Sheepshead | Minimum Size Limit: 12" total length | 8 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Snook (9 rules) | Slot Limit: Not less than 28” or more than 33” total length | Bag Limit: One fish per person per day | Closed Season: December 1 – end of February, and May 1 – August 31 |
| Spot and Atlantic Croaker (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None | 50 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Spotted Seatrout (9 rules) | Slot limit: Not less than 15” or more than 19” total length | Bag limit: Three fish per person per day | Closed season: February; Open season: March 1 – Jan. 31 |
| Tarpon (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None. Tarpon over 40 inches MUST remain in the… | Daily Bag Limit: Tarpon is a catch-and-release only fishery. One… | — |
| Tripletail | Minimum Size Limit: 18" | Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Weakfish (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 12" total length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person | — |
Reef fish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 24” TL | 4 per person | Season: State: Open year-round; Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31… |
| Black Sea Bass (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 10" total length | Daily Bag Limit: 100 pounds per person | — |
| Black, Wenchman, Queen, Blackfin and Silk Snappers (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: None | 10 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Blueline Tilefish (3 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 100 pounds or 2 per person, whichever is greater | — |
| Coney and Graysby (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate | Season: Open year-round |
| Cubera Snapper (2 rules) | 12 in minimum | 10 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Dog and Mahogany Snappers Yellowtail (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 12" total length | 10 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Gag Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 24” TL | 2 per person | Season: Open September 1-30, 2026. |
| Golden Tilefish (3 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 100 pounds or 2 per person, whichever is greater | Season: Open year-round |
| Goliath Grouper | Slot Limit: 24” – 36” Total Length | Harvest Limits: Bag Limit: 1 fish per person during open season, with… | Season & Closed Areas: Season: Open March 1 – May 31 |
| Gray (Mangrove) Snapper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: State: 10" TL; Federal: 12" TL | 5 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Gray Triggerfish (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 15" fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 per person | Season: Open March 1-May 31 And Aug. 1 - Dec. 31. |
| Greater Amberjack (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 34” Fork Length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 per person | Season: Open September 1 - October 13, 2026 |
| Hogfish (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 14" fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 5 per harvester | Season: Open year-round |
| Lane Snapper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: State: 10" TL; Federal: 8" TL | 20 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Lesser Amberjack and Banded Rudderfish | 14–22 in | Daily Recreational Bag Limit: Atlantic and Gulf - 5 per person… | — |
| Lionfish | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: Unlimited | Harvest Season: Open year-round |
| Mutton Snapper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 18" TL | 5 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Nassau Grouper (2 rules) | — | — | — |
| Red Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 20" TL | 2 per person | Season: State: Open year-round; Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31… |
| Red Porgy (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish or 100 lbs. per person, whichever is more. | Season: Open year-round |
| Red Snapper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 16" TL | 2 per person | Season: 2026 Season: Summer Season: May 22 - July 31 (Daily); Fall… |
| Rock Hind and Red Hind (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate | Season: Open year-round |
| Scamp (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 16" TL | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate | Season: State: Open year-round; Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31… |
| Schoolmaster Snapper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 10" TL | 10 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Snowy Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate | Season: Open year-round |
| Vermilion Snapper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 10" TL | 10 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Warsaw Grouper and Speckled Hind (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 1 of each per vessel within 4 grouper aggregate | Season: Open year-round |
| Yellowedge and Misty Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate | Season: Open year-round |
| Yellowfin Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: 20" TL | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate | Season: State: Open year-round; Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31… |
| Yellowmouth Grouper (2 rules) | Min. Size Limit: State: 20" TL; Federal: None | Daily Bag Limit: Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate | Season: State: Open year-round; Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31… |
Offshore & pelagic
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Bonito and Little Tunny | Minimum Size Limit: none | Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish or 100 pounds per day, whichever is more | Season: Open year-round |
| Barracuda (2 rules) | 15–36 in | Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish per person, 6 per vessel | Season: Open year-round |
| Blackfin Tuna | Minimum Size Limit: none | Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is… | Season: Open year-round |
| Blue Marlin | Minimum Size Limit: 99" lower jaw/fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 billfish per person | Season: Open year-round. |
| Bluefin, Bigeye, Albacore and Yellowfin Tuna | — | — | — |
| Bluefish (3 rules) | Minimum size limit: 12" fork length | 3 per person | — |
| Cobia (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 36” fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less | — |
| Dolphinfish (Mahi-Mahi) (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 10 per person or 60 per vessel, whichever is less | — |
| King Mackerel (2 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: 24" fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 3 per harvester | Season: Open year-round |
| Prohibited Sharks | — | — | — |
| Roundscale Spearfish | Minimum Size Limit: 66" lower jaw/fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 billfish per person | Season: Open year-round. |
| Sailfish | Minimum Size Limit: 63" lower jaw/fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 billfish per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Sharks (harvestable species) | Size limits: Harvestable sharks fall into these three groups based on… | 1 per person | — |
| Spanish Mackerel | Minimum Size Limit: 12" fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 15 per harvester | Season: Open year-round |
| Swordfish | Minimum Size Limit: 47" lower jaw/fork length; 25" cleithrum to keel | 1 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| Wahoo | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 2 per person | Season: Open year-round |
| White Marlin | Minimum Size Limit: 66" lower jaw/fork length | Daily Bag Limit: 1 billfish per person | Season: Open year-round. |
Crabs, lobster & shrimp
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Crab | Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 10 gallons whole per harvester per day | — |
| Blue Land Crab | Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: 20 per person | Harvest Seasons: Closed July 1- October 31 |
| Shrimp (4 rules) | — | Daily bag and vessel limits: Within the Big Bend Region, individuals… | Northeast Region (inside waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam… |
| Spiny Lobster (2 rules) | 3 in minimum | 6 per person | Spiny Lobster Sport Season: Season: July 28-29, 2027 (last… |
| Stone Crab | Minimum Size Limit: 2 7/8 inches; only claws may be harvested. | Daily Bag Limit: 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per… | State Waters Harvest Seasons: Open Oct. 15 - May 1 (closed on May 2) |
Clams, oysters & scallops
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Scallop (5 rules) | Minimum Size Limit: None | Daily Bag Limit: Gulf through NW Taylor County and Levy through Pasco… | St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: CLOSED The 2026 bay scallop season in… |
| Hard Clams | 1 in minimum | Bag and Vessel Limit s; Bag Limit: 5 gallon s of hard clams… | Season: Open year-round |
| Oysters (3 rules) | Size Limits: Minimum size: 3 inches | Bag Limit & Tags; ABRO Permit holders will be given one harvest bag… | Season and Days; Open Season: Oct. 1, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027; Harvest… |
| Sea Shells (live organisms) | — | Bag Limits: Seasons, bag limits, and other regulations must be… | — |
Other species
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anemones (Orders Actiniaria, Zoanthidea, Corallimorpharia, and Ceriantharia) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Giant anemone (C ondylactis gigantea) prohibited… | — |
| Angelfish (Family Pomacanthidae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Angelfish… | — | — |
| Burrfish/Balloonfish/Porcupinefish | Size Limits: None | Bag Limits/Remarks: MLB endorsement holders using special gears other… | — |
| Butterflyfish (Family Chaetodontidae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); 1-4" slot limit | — | — |
| Conch, Queen (Strombus gigas) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Harvest prohibited | — |
| Corals, Soft (Subclass Octocorallia) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: No more than 6 non-encrusting octocoral colonies… | — |
| Corals; Hard (Stony) (Order Scleractinia), Fire (Genus Millepora, Black (Order Antipatharia) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Harvest prohibited | — |
| Cowfish | Size Limits: None | Bag Limits/Remarks: MLB endorsement holders using special gears other… | — |
| Crab, Hermit (Families Diogenidae, Paguridae, Parapaguridae, and Pylochelidae) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Except land hermit crabs (Family Coenobitidae)… | — |
| Crab, Horseshoe (Limulus polyphemus) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Recreational harvest prohibited | — |
| Filefish/Triggerfish (Family Balistidae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); None | — | — |
| Gobies (Family Gobiidae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Maximum size… | — | — |
| Hamlets/Seabasses (Family Serranidae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); None | — | — |
| Jawfish (Family Opistognathidae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Maximum size… | — | — |
| Live Rock | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Recreational harvest prohibited (includes rock… | — |
| Marine Life | Regulated Marine Life Species, Size Limits, and Other Restrictions: | 20 per person | — |
| Octopods (Order Octopoda) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Except Common Octopus ( Octopodus vulgaris); 5… | — |
| Other Marine Life Fish | — | — | — |
| Other Marine Life Invertebrates | — | — | — |
| Parrotfish (Family Scaridae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Maximum size… | — | — |
| Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Minimum size… | — | — |
| Puffer Fish (genus Sphoeroides) | — | — | — |
| Pufferfish | Size Limits: None | Bag Limits/Remarks: Harvest of genus Sphoeroides prohibited in… | — |
| Sea Biscuits/Sand Dollars (Order Clypeasteroida) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: No more than 100 lbs or 2 individuals of each… | — |
| Siphonophores/Hydroids (Class Hydrozoa) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Harvest of Fire Coral (Family Milleporidae)… | — |
| Sponges (Class Demospongiae, Order Dictyoceratida) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: Except Sheepswool, Yellow, Grass, Glove, Finger… | — |
| Starfish (Order Asteroidea) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: No more than 5 individuals of each species per… | — |
| Tangs and Surgeonfish (Family Acanthuridae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Maximum size limit… | — | — |
| Trunkfish | Size Limits: None | Bag Limits/Remarks: MLB endorsement holders using special gears other… | — |
| Unregulated Species (default limits) | — | Default Bag Limit for Unregulated Species: Two fish or 100 pounds per… | — |
| Urchins (Class Echinoidea) | — | Bag Limits/Remarks: No more than 5 individuals of each species per… | — |
| Wrasse/ Hogfish/ Razorfish (Family Labridae) | Size Limits (total length unless otherwise noted); Spanish Hogfish… | — | — |