Florida Fishing Regulations: Offshore Rules by Species

Fishing in Florida runs from Gulf coast flats to Atlantic offshore waters and the Keys. The state line sits in a different place on each coast: state waters extend 3 nautical miles off the Atlantic coast and 9 nautical miles off the Gulf coast. One trip of Florida offshore fishing can therefore cross from one rulebook into another, which is not the case in most other U.S. states, where a single line applies. Below are who sets each rule, the size, bag and season figures by species, and where the official page lives.

Florida Fishing Official Government Organizations

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sets the rules in state waters: shore to 3 nautical miles off the Atlantic coast and shore to 9 nautical miles off the Gulf coast. Federal waters run from there out to 200 nautical miles. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council writes the federal rules off the Atlantic coast and the Atlantic side of the Keys, and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council writes them off the Gulf coast. NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office is the regulator in both.

The Council boundary off the Keys runs along 83° W longitude north to 24°35′ N latitude, then east to the mainland. In all Monroe County state waters, Gulf side included, grouper and blueline tilefish follow Atlantic rules, and king mackerel follows the Gulf rule, Atlantic side included. Rules change by season and quota, so check the agency page before you fish.

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) – Sets and enforces rules in state waters and issues the Florida saltwater fishing license and the free State Reef Fish Angler designation. Fees: resident annual $17; non-resident 3-day $17, 7-day $30 and annual $47.
• NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office – The federal regulator in both Atlantic and Gulf federal waters. It also publishes NOAA Fisheries in-season bulletins.
• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Writes South Atlantic federal regulations beyond 3 nautical miles off the Atlantic coast and the Atlantic side of the Keys.
• Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council – Writes Gulf Council federal regulations beyond 9 nautical miles off the Gulf coast.
• NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division – Issues the HMS Angling Permit application to the vessel. The permit is needed in federal waters for billfish, swordfish, sharks and tunas, and in state waters for those tunas. Blackfin tuna needs no HMS permit.
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – Prohibits fishing under the Sanctuary Preservation Area rules, with catch-and-release trolling allowed at Sand Key. Fishing is also prohibited in conservation areas and ecological reserves, where vessels may only transit with gear stowed.

Florida Offshore Fishing Regulations by Species

A Florida saltwater fishing license is required to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, including catch and release, and to land fish in Florida from any waters, state or federal. Exempt are anyone under 16, Florida residents 65 or older, anglers aboard a for-hire vessel with a valid charter license, anglers on a vessel with a Recreational Vessel license, anglers on a licensed pier, and anglers on free fishing days.

Anglers 16 and older on private vessels need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation to harvest or possess any of 13 species, under the State Reef Fish Angler rule. The species are red snapper, vermilion, mutton and yellowtail snapper, gag, red and black grouper, greater and lesser amberjack, banded rudderfish, almaco jack, gray triggerfish and hogfish. The designation is renewed every year, license-exempt seniors still need it, and it is not needed aboard licensed for-hire boats.

Gulf federal reef fish gear is non-stainless-steel circle hooks with natural bait, a dehooking device, and a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready.

Some areas are closed. Snapper-grouper fishing and possession are prohibited in these Atlantic marine protected areas, with transit allowed if gear is stowed:

• North Florida: 30°19′ to 30°29′ N, 80°02′ to 80°14′ W.
• St. Lucie Hump: 27°04′ to 27°08′ N, 79°58′ to 80°00′ W.
• East Hump: 24°27.5′ to 24°36.5′ N, 80°36′ to 80°48′ W.

In the Gulf, fishing is prohibited all year at Madison and Swanson (29°06′ to 29°17′ N, 85°38′ to 85°50′ W) and Steamboat Lumps (28°03′ to 28°14′ N, 84°37′ to 84°48′ W). All fishing is prohibited in The Edges from January through April. The Gulf closed area regulations carry the full text, and in-season changes appear in the NOAA bulletins.

Greater amberjack

The figures are for Gulf federal waters.

• LengthGulf federal waters: 34 inches fork length, measured to the fork of the tail. Atlantic: see FWC.
• Bag limitGulf federal waters: 1 per person per day. Captain and crew: zero.
• SeasonGulf federal waters: closed January 1 to August 31 and November 1 to December 31. NOAA closes the open months early when the annual target is projected to be reached; check NOAA bulletins.
• Gear and permitsState Reef Fish Angler designation, Gulf gear rules, and the federal for-hire permit.

Gulf Council federal regulations

Mahi-mahi

Federal mahi-mahi rules cover the Atlantic only. Gulf waters follow Florida’s state rules. Check your mahi-mahi limits before you leave the dock.

• LengthAtlantic federal waters: 20 inches fork length. Gulf state waters: no minimum size. Atlantic state waters: see FWC.
• Bag limitAtlantic federal waters: 10 per person per day, not to exceed 54 per vessel, whichever is less; on a headboat, 10 per paying passenger. Gulf state waters: 10 per person, 60 per private vessel per day; for-hire, 10 per customer, captain and crew zero.
• SeasonAtlantic federal waters: no closed season. Gulf state waters: open year-round.
• Gear and permitsAtlantic federal waters: keep head and fins intact (gutting, gilling and scaling allowed); Atlantic dolphin and wahoo charter/headboat permit for for-hire vessels. Gulf state waters: hook and line and spearing only; land whole.

FWC dolphinfish page