Saltwater Limits

January 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008

Summary of Changes
Black Sea Bass: Effective Jan 1, 2008 Min. length Atlantic changed from 11" to 12"

Red Snapper: Effective Feb 28, 2008 -Season Changed to June 1 – September 30 Federal Waters (beyond 9 nautical miles) Gulf possession limit changed to 2 per person per day

                     Effective April 1, 2008- Season Changed to April 15 – October 31 State Waters (out to 9 nautical miles) Gulf possession limit changed to 2 per person per day

                     

Reef Fish Species: Effective June 1, 2008 Require the use of non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural bait (live or dead) when fishing for any of the reef fish species

Require venting tools and dehooking devices to be onboard and used on all vessels harvesting any of the reef fish species

         (Changes appear red)   

Species

Size Limit
(Minimum Size unless stated as Maximum)

Closed
Season

Daily Rec. Bag Limit

Remarks

Amberjack, Greater 28" Fork   1 per person per day W
Amberjack, Lesser & Banded Rudderfish Not Less than 14" Fork

Or more than 22" Fork
  5 aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish W
Billfish

Sailfish 63"
Blue Marlin 99"
White Marlin 66"

Swordfish 47" -- No Bag

  1 per person per day aggregate billfish bag limit Species include Marlin, Spearfish, and Sailfish. Federal Size limits apply. Measure from lower lip to fork. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528.
Black Drum Not Less than 14"
or more than 24"
  5 per person per day May posses one over 24"
W
Bluefish 12" Fork   10 per person per day W
Bonefish 18"   1 per person per day  
Clams-Hard 1" thick across hinge May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise. One 5-gallon bucket per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is lesser per day Illegal to harvest from closed areas. Call FMP for current information.
Cobia (Ling)

Changed 3/22/01

33" Fork   1 per person or 6 per boat per day which ever is less. W
Crab, Blue   Sept 20-Oct 4 Gulf state waters beyond 3 miles closed to traps; federal waters closed to traps 10 gallons whole per day 5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Crab, Stone 2 3/4" Claw May 16 - October 14 1 gallon Stone Crab claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less 5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Illegal to process whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Crawfish (Spiny Lobster) Larger than 3" carapace, measured in the water April 1 - August 5
Exception: Sportsman's Season--last consecutive Wed-Thur of July each year
 6 per person per day Recreational trapping prohibited. Crawfish permit required. Call BME for current information on Sport Season.
Dolphin 20" fork Atlantic   10 per person per day not to exceed 60 per vessel per day G
Flounder 12"   10 per person per day May be harvested by spearing.
WGL
Grouper: Black & Gag 24" Atlantic & Monroe County Waters

22" Gulf
  2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County

5 per person per day Gulf
Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper: Red 20"   1 per person per day Gulf Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper:  Scamp

20"

16" Gulf

 

    Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper:  Yellowfin, Yellowmouth

20"

    Are included in 5 grouper per person per day aggregate bag limit. Illegal to buy or sell.
G
Grouper: Warsaw and Speckled Hind (Kitty Mitchell)     1 per vessel, per day of each species. Are included in 5 grouper per person per day aggregate bag limit. Illegal to buy or sell.
G
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 Harvest of Nassau Grouper and Jewfish prohibited.
WG
Hogfish 12" Fork   5 per person per day G
Mackerel, King (Kingfish) 24" Fork   2 per person per day Bag limit in Gulf-Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when Federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call BME for details.
W
Mackerel, Spanish

12" Fork

  15 per person per day Transfer of Spanish mackerel to other vessels is prohibited.
WL
Mullet
(Striped) Black & Silver
    Feb. 1 - Aug. 31 -- 50 per person per day, maximum 100 per vessel Sept. 1-Jan. 31, 50 per person or vessel, whichever is less
Oysters

3"

June, July, and August in Dixie, Wakulla and Levy counties.
July, August and September in all other areas.
2 bags per person or vessel, whichever is less per day. 1 bag = 60 pounds or two 5-gallon buckets (whole in shell). Apalachicola Bay has summer and winter seasons/areas. Harvest from approved shellfish areas only. Call FMP for current information.
Permit & Pompano

Not Less than 11"
or more than 20" fork

  6 per person per day aggregate bag of Permit and Pompano May posses one over 20" of either Permit or Pompano. Gigging, spearing or snatching prohibited.
WGL
Pompano, African

Not less than 24" fork

  2 fish per person or vessel whichever is less Hook & Line Gear only
WL
Red Drum (Redfish) Not Less than 18"
or more than 27"
  1 per person per day Gigging, spearing and snatching prohibited.
WG
Red Porgy

14", Atlantic

  3 per person per day, Atlantic REEF FISH - RED PORGY, CH 68B-14, F.A.C. (Effective March 6, 2000) Prohibits all harvest of Atlantic red porgy from state waters.
WG
Scallops, Bay   September 11 to June 30 2 gallons whole, or one pint meat per person per day. No more than 10 gallons whole or 1/2 gallon meat per vessel anytime. Harvest allowed only in State waters of the Gulf of Mexico north of latitude N28° 26.016 " to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County (W85° 25.84")
G
Sea Bass, Black 12" Atlantic

10" Gulf

  Bag limit 15, Atlantic WG
Sea Bass 8"     Size limit applies to all Sea Basses (Centropristis) except Black Sea Bass.
Shad     10 per person per day, aggregate bag of all Shad American, Alabama and Hickory shad are all part of aggregate. Hook and line gear only.
Shark     1 per person per day, or 2 per vessel pre day, whichever is less Protected Species. Practice of finning or filleting at sea prohibited. No harvest of Sawfish, Basking and Whale Sharks or Spotted Eagle Rays.
Sheepshead

12"

  15 per person per day WGL
Shrimp   April and May closed in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Clay Counties 5 gallons per person or vessel, per day, heads on. Must be landed in whole condition. contact BME for closed areas.
G
Snapper: Black & Wenchman     Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.  
Snapper, Cubera Not Less than 12"
or more than 30"
  Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit if under 30" May keep two over 30" per person or vessel per day. Over 30" not counted in aggregate.
WG
Snapper, Gray (Mangrove) 10"   5 per person per day. Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
WG
Snapper, Lane 8"   Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit if harvested from the Atlantic. Lane snapper harvested in the Gulf of Mexico not included within aggregate snapper bag limit.
WG
Snapper, Mutton 16"   Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
WG
Snapper, Red

new regulations will take effect February 28, 2008 in federal waters and April 1, 2008 in state waters. 

 

20" Atlantic
 

16" Gulf

April 15 – October 31 State Waters (out to 9 nautical miles)

June 1 – September 30 Federal Waters (beyond 9 nautical miles)

Atlantic: 2 per person per day.
 

Gulf: 2 per person per day.

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
WG
Snapper, Schoolmaster 10"   Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. WG
Snapper, Vermilion 12" Atlantic

10" Gulf

  10 per person per day Not counted in Snapper aggregate bag
WG
Snapper - All others 12"   Included in 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit. Includes Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk and Yellowtail.
Snook
(All Species)
Not less than 28"
Not more than 32" or more than 33" Gulf, Monroe county, Everglades Nat. Park
Dec 15-Jan 31, and June, July and August Atlantic;

Dec - Feb, May - Aug in Gulf, Monroe County and Everglades National Park

1 per person per day

 

Snook permit required. Illegal to buy or sell. State regulations apply in Federal waters.
Illegal to posses any over 34"

WG
Spotted Seatrout
(South Region)
Not less than 15"
Not more than 20"

Except one fish over 20" per person

 

November and December 4 fish per day per person

One fish over maximum

State waters South of and including Pinellas county on the Gulf

South of and including Volusia County on the Atlantic


WG

Spotted Seatrout
(North Region)
Not less than 15"
Not more than 20"
Nov & Dec S. Region; Feb N.E. and N.W. Regions 4 per person per day (South Region)

5 fish per day per person (N.E & N.W. Regions)

One fish over maximum.

State waters north of Pinellas county on the Gulf

North of   Volusia County on the Atlantic
WG

Tarpon     2 fish possession limit Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or kill.
Triggerfish, Gray

12" Fork

    All other species of triggerfish have live landing & live well requirements
Tripletail 15"   2 per person per day Hook and line gear only. No snatch hooks.
WL
Wahoo     2 per person per day W
Weakfish 12"   4 per person per day W
  W - Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore. (heads and tails intact) G - Gear restrictions apply. Contact nearest FMP L- Length for these species is defined as the most forward point of the head to the rear center of the tail  

ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL FISH AND PLANTS

Minimum Size Limit (Total Length): Spanish Hogfish 2",  Spotfin Hogfish 3",  Porkfish 1 1/2"

Maximum size Limit (Total Length): Angelfish (except rock beauty) 8", Butterfly, Jawfish 4",
Rock Beauty 5", Gobies 2", Spanish Hogfish 8", Spotfin Hogfish 8"

Bag Limit fishes/Invertebrates: 20 per person per day. no more than 5 Angelfish and no more than 6 Octocoral Colonies. Plants: 1 gallon per person per day

Live landing and live well requirements. Harvest in Biscayne National Park & John Pennekamp State Park Prohibited.
Unlawful to harvest or posses Longspine Urchin, Hard and Fire Corals, Sea Fans, Florida Queen Conch and Bahamas Starfish.
Harvest of live rock in state waters is prohibited
.

PROTECTED SPECIES

It is unlawful to harvest, posses, land, purchase, sell, or exchange the following species:
Nassau Grouper, Jewfish, Sawfish, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon,
White Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Bigeye Sand Tiger Shark, Manta Rays.