2013 Saltwater Fishing Bag Limits and Regulations Guide

Amberjack, Greater●

28″ forkAtlantic; 
30″ forkGulf

June 1–July 31 
Gulf of Mexico

1 per harvester per day

Amberjack, Lesser & Banded Rudderfish●

Not less than 14″ or more than 22″ fork

5 aggregate of lesser amberjack 
and banded rudderfish

Billfish

Sailfish 63″;
Blue Marlin99″;
White Marlin66″
Roundscale Spearfish66″

1 per harvester per day 
aggregate bag limit

Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 orhmspermits.noaa.gov.

HMS permit required in federal waters.

Black DrumT■

Not less than 14″ or more than 24″

5 per harvester per day

May possess one over 24″. Snatching prohibited.

Bluefish

12″ fork

10 per harvester per day

Bonefish■

0 per harvester per day

Catch and release only. Hook and line gear only.

Clams (Hard)

1″ thick across hinge

May not harvest half hour after official sunset 
until half hour before 
official sunrise

One 5 gal. bucket per harvester 
or 2 per vessel, whichever is less 
per day (whole in shell)

Illegal to harvest from closed areas.

Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.

Cobia (Ling)

33″ fork

1 per harvester or 6 per vessel 
per day, whichever is less

Crab, Blue

Regional trap closures apply. See 2013 trap closure dates and locations.

10 gallons whole 
per harvester per day

5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.

Crab, Blue Land

July 1–Oct. 31

20 per harvester per day

Trapping prohibited, harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited, harvest prohibited in state parks and from the right-of-way of federal, state or county maintained roads.

Crab, Stone■

2 ¾” claw

May 16–Oct. 14

1 gal. Stone Crab claws per harvester 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.

Dolphin

20″ forkAtlantic

10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day

FlounderT

12″

10 per harvester per day

May be harvested by spearing. Snatching prohibited.

Gag●

24″ Atlantic & Monroe County

22″ Gulf(excluding Monroe County)

Gulf state waters (excluding Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor and Monroe) OPEN July 1, 2013–Dec. 3, 2013, and will CLOSE on Dec. 4, 2013.  State waters of the Gulf off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor will be OPEN April 1, 2013–June 30, 2013, and will CLOSE on July 1, 2013.

Atlantic & Monroe County Closed Jan.1–April 30.

1 per harvester per day 
Atlantic & Monroe County;

2 per harvester per dayGulf 
(excluding Monroe County)

No more than 1 fish may be Gag or Black Grouper, either individually or in combination in Atlantic & Monroe County.

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain & crew on for-hire vessels.

Please visit: MyFWC.com for the latest updates.

Grouper, Black●

24″ Atlantic & Monroe County

22″ Gulf(excluding Monroe County)

Closed in Gulf(excluding Monroe County)
Feb. 1–March 31

Closed Atlantic & 
Monroe County 
Jan. 1–April 30

1 per harvester per day 
Atlantic & Monroe County; 
4 per harvester per dayGulf 
(excluding Monroe County)

Grouper, Red●

20″

3 per harvester per day 
Atlantic & Monroe County; 
4 per harvester per dayGulf 
(excluding Monroe County)

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain & crew on for-hire vessels.

Grouper, Snowy●

1 per harvester per dayAtlantic

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Atlantic & Monroe County: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Grouper, Yellowfin 
& Yellowmouth●

20″

Closed in Gulf(excluding Monroe County)
Feb. 1–March 31

Closed Atlantic & 
Monroe County 
Jan. 1–April 30

Grouper, Scamp●

20″ Atlantic & Monroe County; 16″Gulf(excluding Monroe County)

Grouper, Warsaw& Speckled Hind●

1 per vessel per day of each species

Grouper, all others●

Closed in Gulf(excluding Monroe County) 
Feb. 1–March 31 for 
Rock Hind and Red Hind

Closed Atlantic & 
Monroe County 
Jan. 1–April 30 for 
Tiger, Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney, Graysby

Hogfish●

12″ fork

5 per harvester per day

Mackerel, King

24″ fork

2 per harvester per day

Bag limit reduced to 1 in some state waters when federal waters are closed to all harvest.

Mackerel, Spanish

12″ fork

15 per harvester per day

Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited.

Mullet, Striped (Black) & Silver

50 aggregate per harvester per day;

Aggregate vessel limits
Feb.1–Aug. 31: 100 per vessel;
Sept.1–Jan. 31: 50 per vessel

Oysters

3″

June, July, Aug. inDixie, Wakulla, Levy counties.

July, Aug., Sept. in 
all other areas.

2 bags per harvester 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 from approved shellfish areas only.

Go to Floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.

PermitT■

22” forkSpecial Permit Zone (SPZ); Not less than 
11” or more than 22” fork 
all other areas

May 1–July 31

SPZ Only

1 per harvester per day, not to exceed 2 per vessel per daySPZ; 
2 per harvester per day 
all other state waters

May possess 1 over 22“ fork length in all other areas, not to exceed 
2 over 22“ fork per vessel per day. For map of SPZ, please see: 
MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Regulations/Permit/.

Pompano, FloridaT■

11″ fork

6 per harvester per day

Hook and line, cast net, and beach or haul seine ONLY.

Pompano, AfricanT■

24″ fork

2 per harvester per day, not to exceed 2 per vessel per day.

Red Drum 
(Redfish)T

Not less than 18″ or more than 27″

2 per harvester per day N.E./N.W. Zone 
1 per harvester per day South Zone

Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited. Harvest in Federal waters prohibited. Vessel limit 8 fish, On-shore possession limit 6 fish. See management zone map.

Red Porgy●

14″ Atlantic

3 per harvester per dayAtlantic

Scallops, Bay

Sept. 25–June 30

2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat 
per harvester per day; no more than10 gallonswhole, or ½gallon meat per vessel anytime

Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line, to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County. It is illegal to harvest, possess and land bay scallops on waters outside open harvest area. See management zone map.

Black Sea Bass●

13″ Atlantic; 10″ Gulf

5 per harvester per dayAtlantic

See New Rules for Atlantic Black Sea Bass for additional information.

Shad

10 aggregate per harvester per day

American, Alabama & Hickory are part of aggregate limit.

Hook & line gear only.

SharkT

No minimum size limit for Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, blacktip, bonnethead, finetooth and smooth dogfish. 54″ fork for all other non-prohibited sharks.

1 per harvester or 2 per vessel 
per day, whichever is less

Hook and line gear only.

See list below for prohibited species.

SheepsheadT

12″

15 per harvester per day

Snatching prohibited.

Shrimp

April & May closed toNassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties

5 gallons heads on per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less

Snapper, Black & Wenchman●

Included within 10 per harvester 
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Cubera●

12″ (see remarks)

Included within 10 per harvester 
per day Snapper aggregate 
bag limit if under 30″

May possess no more than 2 Cubera Snapper over 30″ per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less. 30″ or larger not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper, Gray 
(Mangrove)●

10″

5 per harvester per day

Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper, Lane●

8″

Included within 10 per harvester 
per day Snapper aggregate 
bag limitAtlantic

Gulf not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Snapper, Mutton●

16″

Included within 10 per harvester 
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Red●

20″ Atlantic; 16″ Gulf

Gulf CLOSED — 
check MyFWC.comfor 2013 Gulf season dates

Atlantic OPEN

2 per harvester per day

Included within 10 per harvester per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. Note: Check MyFWC.com/Fishing for most current regulations prior to fishing.

Gulf: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Snapper, 
Schoolmaster●

10″

Included within 10 per harvester 
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Snapper, Vermilion●

12″ Atlantic; 10″ Gulf

Nov. 1–March 31Atlantic

5 per harvester per dayAtlantic; 
10 per harvester per dayGulf

Vermilion Snapper not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.

Atlantic: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels.

Snapper, all other●

12″

Included within 10 per harvester 
per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk & Yellowtail.

Snook 
(all species)T■

Not less than 28″ or more than 32″ Atlantic

Not less than 28″ or more than 33″ Gulf and Monroe County

Atlantic (excluding Monroe) closed Dec.15–Jan. 31 and June 1–Aug. 31. Gulf and Monroe County CLOSED until Sept.1,2013

1 per harvester per day

Snook permit required for harvest when saltwater license required. Illegal to buy or sell snook. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited.

Spiny Lobster

Carapace must be greater than 3″ measured in the water

April 1–Aug. 5
Exception: Sport Season July 24–25, 2013

Sport season: 6 per harvester per day in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, 12 per day in all other harvest areas.

Recreational trapping prohibited. Spiny Lobster permit required when license required. Harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited. Special 
bag limit for 2-day Sport Season.

Sponge, Commercial■

Greater than 5″ in greatest dimension measured across the top of the sponge

10 per harvester per day

Includes: Sheepswool, Yellow, Grass, Glove, Finger, Wire, Reef & Velvet sponge.

Spotted SeatroutT■

Not less than 15″ or 
more than 20″ (statewide) except one fish over 20″ 
per person

5 per harvester per day N.W. Zone
4 per harvester per day S.W. Zone
4 per harvester per day S.E. Zone
6 per harvester per day N.E. Zone

May possess no more than 1 over 20“; included in the regional bag limit. See management zone map.

Swordfish

47″ lower jaw fork length with head attached or 
29″ cleithrum to keel length if head removed.

1 per harvester per day, 
not to exceed a maximum of 
4 per recreational (not for-hire) vessel or 15 per for-hire vessel per day

All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours800-894-5528. HMS permit required in federal waters. Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew of for-hire vessels.

Tarpon

2 fish possession limit

Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or harvest. Snatching and spearing prohibited. Boca Grande Pass has seasonal regulations.

Tilefish­, Golden●

1 per harvester per dayAtlantic

Included within the 3 per harvester per day (Atlantic & Monroe County) and 4 per harvester per day (Gulf excluding Monroe County) Grouper aggregate bag limit.

Atlantic: Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on for-hire vessels

Triggerfish (Gray)●

12″ forkAtlantic; 
14″ forkGulf

Gulf state waters CLOSED June 1 – July 31

Gulf: 2 fish per person

TripletailT

15″

2 per harvester per day

Hook & line gear only. No snatch hooks.

Wahoo

2 per harvester per day

Weakfish

12″

1 per harvester per day

Regulations apply in parts of Nassau County only. Seemanagement zone map.

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. See Reef Fish Gear Rules.

THarvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.

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, Great Hammerhead Shark, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Manta Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Longbill Spearfish, Mediterranean Spearfish, Sturgeon, Florida Queen Conch, Stony, Hard 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.

Harvester:Regardless of what species you are fishing for, bag limits are only for properly licensed individuals and those people exempt from licensing requirements who are actively harvesting. People harvesting may not exceed the individual bag limit and take someone else’s bag limit. That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

For information on bag limits during multi-day trips, returning with fish from the Bahamas and spearing, please see “Other Information” at:MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational