Regulations on Saltwater Fish Sizes in East Coast Florida

When heading out to enjoy deep sea fishing off the eastern coast of Florida, keep in mind the size limits set forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for the fish you catch. Changed regularly at the discretion of the FWC, the current limits expire on June 30, 2010. The regulations on the size of saltwater fish apply only to Florida waters, which extend three nautical miles off the Atlantic coast.

  1. Groupers

    • Minimum size limits for grouper require the fish be laid on its side and measured from the farthest point of the head to the tip of the tail while the mouth is closed and the tail is squeezed together. For gag and black grouper, the measurement should be no less than 24 inches. Yellowfin, yellowmouth and scamp grouper hold a minimum length of 20 inches. There are no size limits for other varieties of grouper off the east coast of Florida.

    Jacks and Mackerel

    • The greater amberjack carries only a minimum size limit of 24 inches. The lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish carry a minimum size limit of 14 inches but may not be longer than 22 inches when measured to the fork of the tail. There are two types of mackerel you may fish for off the east coast of Florida, king and Spanish. The minimum length of the kingfish is 24 inches when measured to the fork of the tail. The Spanish mackerel has a smaller size requirement with a minimum of 20 inches when measured to the fork of the tail.

    Snappers

    • One of the smaller size limits of fish off Florida's east coast, the lane snapper has a minimum length of 8 inches. Gray (mangrove) and schoolmaster snapper have a minimum length requirement of 10 inches. The mutton snapper requires a minimum length of 16 inches. The red snapper has the highest minimum length requirement of all the snappers at 20 inches. The cubera, vermillion and all other varieties of snapper have a 12-inch minimum length. When measuring any snapper, lay the fish on its side with mouth closed and tail pressed together, measuring from the farthest point of the head to the tip of the tail.

    Drums

    • When measuring for size requirements of drum, they all must lie on their side with mouth closed and tail compressed before being measured from the farthest point of the head to the tip of the tail. While fishing for your daily limit of black drum, you may keep one that exceeds 24 inches. All others must be more than 14 inches, but no more than 24 inches, in length. The red drum allows for a slightly larger catch with a minimum length of 18 inches but measuring no longer than 27 inches. The spotted sea trout allows for one fish per day measuring more than 20 inches, but all others must be 15 to 20 inches. The weakfish is the exception to the drums with no maximum size limit, only a minimum of 12 inches.

    Crab, Lobster and Shellfish

    • There are no size requirements for blue crab on Florida's Atlantic coast, although there are minimum limits for stone crab and crawfish (spiny lobster.) When catching stone crab, the claw must be at least 2¾ inches in length. The crawfish, when measured in the water, must have a minimum carapace length of 3 inches. Hard clams and oysters are subject to the size limits set on fishing on Florida's east coast as well. The clam's hinge must measure 1 inch across the hinge, while oysters need to be at least 3 inches.

    Pompanos and Snook

    • When measuring for size limits of pompanos, the fish is measured to the fork of the tail. The African pompano may be no less than 24 inches, while the Florida pompano and permit may be no less than 11 inches and no more than 20. All species of snook are subject to a minimum and maximum length requirement when measured from the farthest points while laid on the side. The fish must be at least 28 inches but may not exceed 32.

    Shark and Swordfish

    • While fishing for shark, with the exception of the Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, blacktip, bonehead, finetooth and smooth dogfish, the length measured to the fork of the tail must be at least 54 inches. The swordfish provides the most stringent of size requirements. The measurement from the lower jaw to the fork in the tail must be 47 inches. The measurement from the cleith rum to the keel length is to be 27 inches, and the fish can weigh no more than 33 pounds while dressed.

    Billfish

    • Billfish include the blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish, each with a large minimum length requirement in comparison with other species off the Florida coast and no maximum length requirements. The blue marlin must be at least 99 inches in length, the white marlin 66 inches and the sailfish 63.

    Others

    • Other fish with size requirements off the Florida east coast include the bluefish, hogfish and triggerfish, which must be a minimum of 12 inches in length measured to the fork of the tail. Flounder, black sea bass and sheepshead have a 12- inch minimum length as well, though they must be measured while lying on the side. The red porgy and tripletail must be measured while lying on the side as well, with a minimum of 14 inches in length required for the red porgy and 15 inches for the tripletail. The cobia and dolphin offer larger minimum length requirements, measured to the fork of the tail, with 33 inches for the cobia and 20 inches for dolphin.