Florida Fishing Regulations
Managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Summary below verified 2026-07-27.
⚠️ This is a planning summary, not the law. Rules change mid-season and many waters carry special regulations. Verify with the official Florida rules before keeping fish.
License fees
Separate freshwater and saltwater licenses. Shore-based saltwater anglers need the free shoreline license. Residents 65+ and children under 16 are exempt.
| Resident freshwater annual | ≈$17 |
| Resident saltwater annual | ≈$17 |
| Non-resident freshwater annual | ≈$47 |
Fees approximate as of 2026-07-27; agency fees pages have exact current pricing.
Season, size & bag limits — popular species
| Species | Waters | Season | Daily bag | Size limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Freshwater | Open year-round | 5 (all black bass combined) | Only one may be 16" or longer | No minimum length statewide |
| Black crappie | Freshwater | Open year-round | 25 | None statewide | Some lakes have special limits |
| Bluegill & redear sunfish | Freshwater | Open year-round | 50 combined | None | |
| Butterfly peacock bass | Freshwater (South FL) | Open year-round | 2 | Only one may be 17" or longer | |
| Red drum (redfish) | Saltwater | Open year-round (harvest closed in some zones) | Varies by management zone | 18–27" slot | Zone rules change — check FWC before keeping fish |
| Spotted seatrout | Saltwater | Open most of year | 3–5 by zone | 15–19" slot; one over allowed per vessel in some zones | Zone-dependent |
| Snook | Saltwater | Seasonal closures (summer/winter by coast) | 1 | 28–32" (Atlantic) / 28–33" (Gulf) slot | Snook permit required; frequently closed by region |
Saltwater species are managed by zone and rules change mid-year after storms or cold kills — always confirm on the FWC site or the Fish Rules app before harvesting.
Plan your Florida trip
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