TideStrikeSouth Florida

FWC Regulations

Species & Regulations

Current slot, bag, and season limits for South Florida saltwater gamefish. Atlantic and Gulf rules differ — always confirm with FWC before keeping your catch.

81 species

Common Snook
inshoreTop target

Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Atlantic closedGulf closed
Tarpon
inshoreTop target

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Atlantic openGulf open
Red Drum (Redfish)
inshoreTop target

Red Drum (Redfish)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Atlantic openGulf open
Permit
inshoreTop target

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Atlantic openGulf open
Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish)
pelagicTop target

Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish)

Coryphaena hippurus

Atlantic openGulf open
Spotted Seatrout
inshoreTop target

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Atlantic openGulf open
Hogfish
reefTop target

Hogfish

Lachnolaimus maximus

Atlantic openGulf open
Gag Grouper
reefTop target

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Atlantic openGulf closed
Red Grouper
reefTop target

Red Grouper

Epinephelus morio

Atlantic openGulf open
Mangrove (Gray) Snapper
reefTop target

Mangrove (Gray) Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Atlantic openGulf openSabiki #8-#10 (juveniles)
King Mackerel
pelagicTop target

King Mackerel

Scomberomorus cavalla

Atlantic openGulf open
Atlantic Sailfish
pelagicTop target

Atlantic Sailfish

Istiophorus albicans

Atlantic openGulf open
Cobia
pelagicTop target

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Atlantic openGulf open
Wahoo
pelagicTop target

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

Atlantic openGulf open
Blackfin Tuna
pelagicTop target

Blackfin Tuna

Thunnus atlanticus

Atlantic openGulf openSabiki #1-#2 (small footballs)
Yellowtail Snapper
reefTop target

Yellowtail Snapper

Ocyurus chrysurus

Atlantic openGulf openSabiki #6-#8 (juveniles)
Mutton Snapper
reefTop target

Mutton Snapper

Lutjanus analis

Atlantic openGulf open
Florida Pompano
inshoreTop target

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Atlantic openGulf open
Bonefish
inshoreTop target

Bonefish

Albula vulpes

Atlantic openGulf open
Black Drum
inshoreTop target

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Atlantic openGulf open
Sheepshead
inshoreTop target

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Atlantic openGulf open
Spanish Mackerel
pelagicTop target

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Atlantic openGulf openSabiki #4-#6
Greater Amberjack
reefTop target

Greater Amberjack

Seriola dumerili

Atlantic closedGulf closed
Goliath Grouper
reefTop target

Goliath Grouper

Epinephelus itajara

Atlantic openGulf closed
Tripletail
inshoreTop target

Tripletail

Lobotes surinamensis

Atlantic openGulf open
Great Barracuda
inshoreTop target

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Atlantic openGulf open
Black Grouper
reef

Black Grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

Atlantic openGulf open
Cubera Snapper
reef

Cubera Snapper

Lutjanus cyanopterus

Atlantic openGulf open
Lane Snapper
reef

Lane Snapper

Lutjanus synagris

Atlantic openGulf open
Vermilion Snapper
reef

Vermilion Snapper

Rhomboplites aurorubens

Atlantic openGulf open
Yellowfin Tuna
pelagic

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Atlantic openGulf open
Blue Marlin
pelagic

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Atlantic openGulf open
Swordfish
pelagic

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Atlantic openGulf open
White Marlin
pelagic

White Marlin

Kajikia albida

Atlantic openGulf open
Almaco Jack
pelagic

Almaco Jack

Seriola rivoliana

Atlantic openGulf open
African Pompano
pelagic

African Pompano

Alectis ciliaris

Atlantic openGulf open
Gray Triggerfish
reef

Gray Triggerfish

Balistes capriscus

Atlantic openGulf open
Cero Mackerel
pelagic

Cero Mackerel

Scomberomorus regalis

Atlantic openGulf open
Little Tunny (Bonito)
pelagic

Little Tunny (Bonito)

Euthynnus alletteratus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #1-#2
Gulf Flounder
inshore

Gulf Flounder

Paralichthys albigutta

Atlantic openGulf open
Schoolmaster Snapper
reef

Schoolmaster Snapper

Lutjanus apodus

Atlantic openGulf open
Scamp
reef

Scamp

Mycteroperca phenax

Atlantic openGulf open
Nassau Grouper
reef

Nassau Grouper

Epinephelus striatus

Atlantic openGulf open
Atlantic Spadefish
reef

Atlantic Spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

Unregulated — no limits
White Grunt
reef

White Grunt

Haemulon plumieri

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #6-#8
Blacktip Shark
inshore

Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

Atlantic openGulf open
Bonnethead Shark
inshore

Bonnethead Shark

Sphyrna tiburo

Atlantic openGulf open
Bull Shark
inshore

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Atlantic openGulf open
Lemon Shark
inshore

Lemon Shark

Negaprion brevirostris

Atlantic openGulf open
Great Hammerhead
pelagic

Great Hammerhead

Sphyrna mokarran

Atlantic openGulf open
Spotted Eagle Ray
inshore

Spotted Eagle Ray

Aetobatus narinari

Atlantic openGulf open
Rainbow Runner
pelagic

Rainbow Runner

Elagatis bipinnulata

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #1-#4
Atlantic Bonito
pelagic

Atlantic Bonito

Sarda sarda

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #1-#2
Jolthead Porgy
reef

Jolthead Porgy

Calamus bajonado

Atlantic openGulf open
Gulf Kingfish (Whiting)
inshore

Gulf Kingfish (Whiting)

Menticirrhus littoralis

Unregulated — no limits
Striped Mullet
inshore

Striped Mullet

Mugil cephalus

Atlantic openGulf open
Nurse Shark
reef

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Atlantic openGulf open
Scaled Sardine (Pilchard)
inshore

Scaled Sardine (Pilchard)

Harengula jaguana

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #8-#10
Threadfin Herring (Greenback)
inshore

Threadfin Herring (Greenback)

Opisthonema oglinum

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #6-#8
Spanish Sardine
pelagic

Spanish Sardine

Sardinella aurita

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #10-#12
Cigar Minnow (Round Scad)
pelagic

Cigar Minnow (Round Scad)

Decapterus punctatus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #8-#10
Bluefish
inshore

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Atlantic openGulf open
Goggle-Eye (Bigeye Scad)
pelagic

Goggle-Eye (Bigeye Scad)

Selar crumenophthalmus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #4-#6
Ballyhoo
pelagic

Ballyhoo

Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #10-#12
Pigfish
inshore

Pigfish

Orthopristis chrysoptera

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #6-#8
Tomtate
reef

Tomtate

Haemulon aurolineatum

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #8-#10
Jack Crevalle
inshore

Jack Crevalle

Caranx hippos

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #4-#6 (small fish)
Atlantic Bumper
inshore

Atlantic Bumper

Chloroscombrus chrysurus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #8-#10
Horse-Eye Jack
inshore

Horse-Eye Jack

Caranx latus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #2-#4
Ladyfish
inshore

Ladyfish

Elops saurus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #4-#6 (small fish)
Bar Jack
reef

Bar Jack

Caranx ruber

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #4-#6
Blue Runner
inshore

Blue Runner

Caranx crysos

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #4-#6
Southern Stingray
inshore

Southern Stingray

Hypanus americanus

Unregulated — no limits
Lookdown
inshore

Lookdown

Selene vomer

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #8-#10
Bluestriped Grunt
reef

Bluestriped Grunt

Haemulon sciurus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #6-#8
Porkfish
reef

Porkfish

Anisotremus virginicus

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #8-#10
Houndfish (Needlefish)
inshore

Houndfish (Needlefish)

Tylosurus crocodilus

Unregulated — no limits
Pinfish
inshore

Pinfish

Lagodon rhomboides

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #6-#8
Mojarra (Silver Jenny)
inshore

Mojarra (Silver Jenny)

Eucinostomus gula

Unregulated — no limitsSabiki #10-#12
Gafftopsail Catfish
inshore

Gafftopsail Catfish

Bagre marinus

Unregulated — no limits
Hardhead Catfish
inshore

Hardhead Catfish

Ariopsis felis

Unregulated — no limits

Disclaimer: Regulations change frequently. This guide is a planning aid, not legal authority. Always verify current rules at MyFWC.com before harvesting any fish. A valid Florida saltwater fishing license and applicable permits (e.g., snook, tarpon) are required.