Florida Fishing Regulations 2010
This is a current collection of Florida fishing regulations imposed upon recreational anglers as of 2010 concerning species-specific bag limits, fish measurements, collection areas, and season dates. All of the Florida fishing regulations listed are current and compliant to the recent changes enforced. Hopefully this will be helpful in knowing what you are allowed to harvest before hurting yourself and/or our Florida fishery.
***Note- All Florida resident between the ages of 16 and 65 are required to have a fishing licence in their posession when fishing anywhere except for selected fishing piers and/or on a certified fishing guide’s boat. A shore fishing licence of $9.50 is required as of August 1st, 2009 for any beach fishing by residents that do not own a fishing licence. This is not needed if you already have a Florida fishing licence because it covers the shore licence.
As of January 1st, there is a 4 month ban on grouper of any species in Atlantic waters. The Gulf of Mexico isn’t subjected to this regulation, unless you are located in Monroe County (Florida keys). The ban lasts from January 1st through April 30th.
Florida Saltwater Recreational Angler Fishing Regulations
Species Min. Size Closed Bag Limit Comments
Amberjack, Greater 28″Atlantic/30″Gulf —- 1 per person per day Measure from fork
Amberjack, Lesser 14″-22″ (slot) —- 5 per person/boat whichever is less
Billfish Sailfish 63″/Blue Marlin 99″/White Marlin 66″ —- 1 per person per day Measure tip of lower jaw to fork
Black Drum 14″-24″ (slot) —- 5 per person per day May possess one over 24″
Bluefish 12″ —- 10 per person per day Measure from fork
Bonefish 18″ Jan. 16-Mar. 31 1 per person per day
Clams 1″ thick across hinge 1/2 hr. before/after sunset 5 gal. bucket per person/2 per boat
Cobia 33″ —- 1 per person/6 per boat
Crab, Blue —- Sept. 20-Oct. 4 10 gallons per person per day 5 trap max. No egg-carriers
Crab, Stone 2&3/4″ claw May 16-Oct. 14 1 gallon per person/2 per boat 5 trap max. Cannot keep whole crab
Dolphin 20″ Atlantic/ —- Gulf —- 10 per person per day/60 per boat per day
Flounder 12″ —- 10 per person per day May be speared. Snatching prohibited
Grouper, Gag 24″ Atlantic/22″ Gulf Feb.1- March31 in Gulf 2 per person per day No bag limit on for-hire fishing boats in Gulf
Grouper, Black 24″ Atlantic/ 22″ Gulf Feb.1- March31 in Gulf 2 Atlantic/4 Gulf per person per day See Above
Grouper, Red 20″ Feb.1- March31 in Gulf 5 Atlantic/ 2 Gulf per person per day See Above
Grouper, Snowy —- —- 1 per person per day
Grouper, Yellowfin/Mouth 20″ Feb.1- March31 in Gulf —-
Grouper, Scamp 20″ Atlantic/16″ Gulf Feb.1- March 31 in Gulf —-
Grouper, Warsaw —- —- 1 per boat per day
Hog Snapper 12″ —- 5 per person per day
Mackerel, King 24″ —- 2 per person per day Measure from fork
Mackerel, Spanish 12″ —- 15 per person per day Measure from fork
Mullet, Striped/Black —- —- 50 aggregate per person per day
Oysters 3″ July, Aug., Sept. (2) 5 gal. buckets per boat per day (in shell)
Permit/Pompano 11″-20″ —- 6 aggregate per person per day Measure from fork. (2) aggregate over 20″
Pompano, African 24″ —- 2 per boat per day Hook and line gear only
Redfish 18″-27″ —- 1 per person per day Hook and line gear only
Red Porgy 14″ Atlantic —- 3 per person per day
Scallops —- Sept.11-June 30 2 gal. whole/1 pint meat per person per day. 10 gal./1 pint max. on any boat
Sea Bass, Black 12″ Atlantic/10″ Gulf —- 15 per person per day/Atlantic
Shark —- —- 1 per person/2 per boat per day Spearing prohibited
Sheepshead 12″ —- 15 per person per day Snatching prohibited. Cast-netting allowed
Shrimp —- April-May 5 gallons per person/boat per day
Snapper, Black/Wenchman —- —- Inc. in 10 snapper per person per day aggregate
Snapper, Cubera 12″-30″ —- If under 30″, see above 2 allowed over 30″ per boat per day
Snapper, Mangrove/Gray 10″ —- 5 per person per day Inc. in 10 snapper per person per day aggregate
Snapper, Lane 8″ —- Inc. in 10 snapper per person per day aggregate/Atlantic
Snapper, Mutton 16″ —- See Above
Snapper, Red 20″ Atlantic/16″ Gulf Aug. 15- May 31 2 per person per day Inc. in 10 snapper per person per day aggregate
Snapper, Schoolmaster 10″ —- Inc. in 10 snapper per person per day aggregate
Snapper, Vermillion 12″ Atlantic/ 10″ Gulf —- 10 per person per day Not inc. in 10 snapper aggregate
Snapper, Other 12″ —- Inc. in 10 snapper per person per day aggregate
Snook (all species) (28″-32″ Atlantic/ 28″-33″ Gulf) Jan. 16-Aug. 31 (one per person per day) (snook stamp required on licence)
Sponge 5″ —- 10 per person per day
Seatrout (15″-20″; 1 over 20″ allowed) (Nov.-Dec. in S. regions/Feb. in N.E.& N.W. regions) (4 per person per day in S. regions/5 in N.E.& N.W. regions)
Swordfish 47″ lower jaw to fork —- 1 per person/3 per boat per day
Tarpon —- Jan. 16-Mar. 31 2 fish possession limit $50 tag req’d. No Snatching/Spearing
Tilefish, Golden —- —- 1 per person per day/Atlantic Included in grouper aggregate limits
Triggerfish 12″ fork Atlantic/14″ fork Gulf —- 2 per person per day
Tripletail 15″ —- 2 per person per day Hook and line gear only
Wahoo —- —- 2 per person per day
Weakfish 12″ —- 4 per person per day
