11
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Striped (black) and silver (white, fantail, or redeye) mullet are
designated as “Restricted Species”.
The minimum size limit for striped mullet is 11 inches (fork length),
with an allowance for a quantity of undersized mullet not to exceed 10
percent of the total weight of all striped mullet possessed. Fork length
is measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.
The use of any gear other than cast nets (no more than 14 feet long,
and no more than two per vessel), beach or haul seines (no larger than
500 square feet, and no more than two may be fished per vessel), hook
and line gear; and by spearing is prohibited. Spearfishing is prohibited
in fresh water. Simultaneous possession of any mullet species in excess
of the recreational bag limit and any gill or entangling net is prohibited.
This prohibition applies to mullet and gill nets in separate vessels or
vehicles that are operated in coordination with one another, including
towed vessels. Sale of mullet harvested with illegal gear is prohibited.
Striped Mullet Only
Area*
Regional Bag Limits and Closures
Pinellas County (Tampa Bay) - Riveria Bay and Bayou Grande (Papy’s Bayou), Placido
Bayou (Smack’s Bayou), Snell Isle Harbour, and Coffee Pot Bayou, and certain connecting
areas of Tampa Bay, and areas of Tampa Bay between the municipal pier head to just
north of the southern tip of Weedon Island.
Oct 1 - Jan. 31 - 5 mullet per person or per vessel per day, whichever is
more restrictive.
Manatee County - Manatee River upstream of a line from the eastern side of the mouth of
Warner’s Bayou northeasterly to the eastern side of the mouth of Tierra Ciea Cutoff.
Nov. 1 - Jan. 31 - 50 mullet per person per day or per vessel, whichever
is more restrictive.
Charlotte County - Peace River upstream of a line from Mangrove Point running
northwesterly through the northeastern most point of Locust Point to the shoreline in
the body of water known as Myakka Cutoff. Coral Creek upstream of its mouth on
Gasparilla Sound.
Nov. 1 - Jan. 31 - 50 mullet per person or per vessel per day, whichever
is more restrictive.
Charlotte County - Punta Gorda area.
Nov. 1 thru the end of February, closed nightly 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Possession is prohibited during the nightly closure.
* Refer to official area descriptions in the Mullet Rule.
Silver Mullet Only
Area*
Regional Bag Limits and Closures
All Atlantic waters north of the Miami/Dade/Monroe County line.
During February, commercial harvest prohibited.
Statewide
Weekend Closure - July 1 - Jan. 31 commercial harvest prohibited
12:01 a.m. Sat. morning to 12:01 a.m. Mon. morning. Mullet
harvested under the recreational bag limit during the weekend closure
may not be sold or purchased.
* Refer to official area descriptions in the Mullet Rule 68B-39, F.A.C.
Mullet Bag Limits & Closures
Striped
Area
Regional Bag Limits and Closures
Statewide
Harvest is prohibited seaward of the 3-mile line (Gulf and Atlantic) and seaward of the Everglades National Park line in Florida Bay.
Spanish Mackerel Vessel/Trip Limits:
Eastern
From April 1 to Nov. 30:
3,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
From Dec. 1 until the EEZ closes to unlimited harvest -
Mon. - Fri.:
3,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
Sat. and Sun.:
1,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
From date closure to unlimited harvest until EEZ closes:
1,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
From the date of closure until March 31:
500 lbs.
Western
From April 1 until the EEZ closes:
Unlimited harvest
From the date the EEZ closes until Mar. 31
500 lbs. daily vessel limit
The commercial Spanish mackerel fishery is divided into
Eastern and Western regions. The boundary separating
the regions is 25°20.4’ N. Latitude, (a line directly
east from the Miami/Dade/Monroe County border to
the edge of the EEZ). All Atlantic waters north of
the boundary line comprise the Eastern Region. All
Atlantic waters south of the boundary line and all state
waters and adjacent federal waters in the Gulf comprise
the Western Region. Although the trip limit for the
commercial harvest of Spanish mackerel is reduced in
response to federal trip limit reductions and closures,
there is no closed season for the commercial harvest
of Spanish mackerel in state waters. Transfer of fish
between vessels is prohibited in the Eastern Region.
SPANISH MACKEREL
MULLET
26
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Striped (black) and silver (white, fantail, or redeye) mullet are
designated as “Restricted Species”.
The minimum size limit for striped mullet is 11 inches (fork length),
with an allowance for a quantity of undersized mullet not to exceed 10
percent of the total weight of all striped mullet possessed. Fork length
is measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.
The use of any gear other than cast nets (no more than 14 feet long,
and no more than two per vessel), beach or haul seines (no larger than
500 square feet, and no more than two may be fished per vessel), hook
and line gear; and by spearing is prohibited. Spearfishing is prohibited
in fresh water. Simultaneous possession of any mullet species in excess
of the recreational bag limit and any gill or entangling net is prohibited.
This prohibition applies to mullet and gill nets in separate vessels or
vehicles that are operated in coordination with one another, including
towed vessels. Sale of mullet harvested with illegal gear is prohibited.
Striped Mullet Only
Area*
Regional Bag Limits and Closures
Pinellas County (Tampa Bay) - Riveria Bay and Bayou Grande (Papy’s Bayou), Placido
Bayou (Smack’s Bayou), Snell Isle Harbour, and Coffee Pot Bayou, and certain connecting
areas of Tampa Bay, and areas of Tampa Bay between the municipal pier head to just
north of the southern tip of Weedon Island.
Oct 1 - Jan. 31 - 5 mullet per person or per vessel per day, whichever is
more restrictive.
Manatee County - Manatee River upstream of a line from the eastern side of the mouth of
Warner’s Bayou northeasterly to the eastern side of the mouth of Tierra Ciea Cutoff.
Nov. 1 - Jan. 31 - 50 mullet per person per day or per vessel, whichever
is more restrictive.
Charlotte County - Peace River upstream of a line from Mangrove Point running
northwesterly through the northeastern most point of Locust Point to the shoreline in
the body of water known as Myakka Cutoff. Coral Creek upstream of its mouth on
Gasparilla Sound.
Nov. 1 - Jan. 31 - 50 mullet per person or per vessel per day, whichever
is more restrictive.
Charlotte County - Punta Gorda area.
Nov. 1 thru the end of February, closed nightly 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Possession is prohibited during the nightly closure.
* Refer to official area descriptions in the Mullet Rule.
Silver Mullet Only
Area*
Regional Bag Limits and Closures
All Atlantic waters north of the Miami/Dade/Monroe County line.
During February, commercial harvest prohibited.
Statewide
Weekend Closure - July 1 - Jan. 31 commercial harvest prohibited
12:01 a.m. Sat. morning to 12:01 a.m. Mon. morning. Mullet
harvested under the recreational bag limit during the weekend closure
may not be sold or purchased.
* Refer to official area descriptions in the Mullet Rule 68B-39, F.A.C.
Mullet Bag Limits & Closures
Striped
Area
Regional Bag Limits and Closures
Statewide
Harvest is prohibited seaward of the 3-mile line (Gulf and Atlantic) and seaward of the Everglades National Park line in Florida Bay.
Spanish Mackerel Vessel/Trip Limits:
Eastern
From April 1 to Nov. 30:
3,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
From Dec. 1 until the EEZ closes to unlimited harvest -
Mon. - Fri.:
3,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
Sat. and Sun.:
1,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
From date closure to unlimited harvest until EEZ closes:
1,500 lbs. daily vessel limit
From the date of closure until March 31:
500 lbs.
Western
From April 1 until the EEZ closes:
Unlimited harvest
From the date the EEZ closes until Mar. 31
500 lbs. daily vessel limit
The commercial Spanish mackerel fishery is divided into
Eastern and Western regions. The boundary separating
the regions is 25°20.4’ N. Latitude, (a line directly
east from the Miami/Dade/Monroe County border to
the edge of the EEZ). All Atlantic waters north of
the boundary line comprise the Eastern Region. All
Atlantic waters south of the boundary line and all state
waters and adjacent federal waters in the Gulf comprise
the Western Region. Although the trip limit for the
commercial harvest of Spanish mackerel is reduced in
response to federal trip limit reductions and closures,
there is no closed season for the commercial harvest
of Spanish mackerel in state waters. Transfer of fish
between vessels is prohibited in the Eastern Region.
SPANISH MACKEREL
MULLET
26