Recreational gear
Additional regional gear restrictions may apply
in your county. For further clarification, contact the local regional offices listed on page 5.
Reef fish gear rules
(applies to species marked with ● on pages
11-12)
ʄ Gulf of Mexico: These regulations require
the use of a dehooking device when recreationally fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of
Mexico. All persons aboard a vessel harvesting reef fish must possess and use nonstainless steel non-offset circle hooks when
using natural baits.
ʄ Atlantic Ocean: Recreational and commercial fishers are required to use dehooking
devices as needed while fishing for reef fish.
These rules apply to all members of the reef
fish complex including groupers, snappers,
amberjacks, red porgy, gray triggerfish, black
sea bass, golden tilefish, banded rudderfish,
speckled hind and others. For a complete species list, please visit MyFWC.com.
Hook-and-line gear
Hook-and-line anglers must tend their gear
at all times to prevent people, marine life and
shore life from becoming entangled in the line
or injured by the hook. Also, it is against the
law to intentionally discard any monofilament
netting or line into or onto state waters. Monofilament line can entangle birds, marine mammals, marine turtles and fish, often injuring or
killing them. Trot lines with 10 or fewer hooks
are considered hook-and-line gear and must
be tended at all times while deployed. Species identified with "T" on pages 9 through 12
cannot be harvested with multi-hooks (single
hook with two or more points) in conjunction
with natural baits.
Nets
The following types of nets may be used for
recreational purposes in Florida waters:
ʄ Bully nets (for lobster only) no greater than
3 feet in diameter and not made of
monofilament.
ʄ Frame nets and push nets (for shrimp only)
no greater than 16 feet in perimeter and not
made of monofilament. Frame nets cannot
be used in state waters off Dade County.
ʄ Hand-held landing or dip nets no greater
than 96 inches in perimeter.
ʄ Cast nets measuring 14 feet or less stretched
length (stretched length is defined as the
distance from the horn at the center of the
net with the net gathered and pulled taut,
to the lead line).
ʄ Beach or haul seines measuring no larger
than 500 square feet of mesh area, no larger
than 2 inches stretched mesh size, not constructed of monofilament, and legibly marked
at both ends with the harvester’s name and
address if a Florida resident. Non-residents
using beach or haul seines for recreational
purposes are required to have a commercial
saltwater products license and legibly mark
the seine at both ends with the harvester’s
saltwater products license number.
ʄ Cast nets and seines may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black
drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp,
Spanish mackerel, weakfish and unregulated
species (see p. 11).
ʄ No more than two nets can be fished from
any vessel and no more than one net can be
fished by any person not on a vessel.
Explosives, etc.
The use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals
or the discharge of firearms to kill or harvest
marine life is prohibited in state waters.
R E C R E A T I O N A L G E A R
eRegulations.com
Powered by
Need to Know
On the Go?
Florida Fishing Regulations are
now available online through your
mobile devices!
Foreclosed Land
Deeply Discounted
Recreational and Residential land located in
FL, NC, TX, AR, NY, PA, WA, AZ, NV
888-758-5687
www.dfcland.com
59
Additional regional gear restrictions may apply
in your county. For further clarification, contact the local regional offices listed on page 5.
Reef fish gear rules
(applies to species marked with ● on pages
11-12)
ʄ Gulf of Mexico: These regulations require
the use of a dehooking device when recreationally fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of
Mexico. All persons aboard a vessel harvesting reef fish must possess and use nonstainless steel non-offset circle hooks when
using natural baits.
ʄ Atlantic Ocean: Recreational and commercial fishers are required to use dehooking
devices as needed while fishing for reef fish.
These rules apply to all members of the reef
fish complex including groupers, snappers,
amberjacks, red porgy, gray triggerfish, black
sea bass, golden tilefish, banded rudderfish,
speckled hind and others. For a complete species list, please visit MyFWC.com.
Hook-and-line gear
Hook-and-line anglers must tend their gear
at all times to prevent people, marine life and
shore life from becoming entangled in the line
or injured by the hook. Also, it is against the
law to intentionally discard any monofilament
netting or line into or onto state waters. Monofilament line can entangle birds, marine mammals, marine turtles and fish, often injuring or
killing them. Trot lines with 10 or fewer hooks
are considered hook-and-line gear and must
be tended at all times while deployed. Species identified with "T" on pages 9 through 12
cannot be harvested with multi-hooks (single
hook with two or more points) in conjunction
with natural baits.
Nets
The following types of nets may be used for
recreational purposes in Florida waters:
ʄ Bully nets (for lobster only) no greater than
3 feet in diameter and not made of
monofilament.
ʄ Frame nets and push nets (for shrimp only)
no greater than 16 feet in perimeter and not
made of monofilament. Frame nets cannot
be used in state waters off Dade County.
ʄ Hand-held landing or dip nets no greater
than 96 inches in perimeter.
ʄ Cast nets measuring 14 feet or less stretched
length (stretched length is defined as the
distance from the horn at the center of the
net with the net gathered and pulled taut,
to the lead line).
ʄ Beach or haul seines measuring no larger
than 500 square feet of mesh area, no larger
than 2 inches stretched mesh size, not constructed of monofilament, and legibly marked
at both ends with the harvester’s name and
address if a Florida resident. Non-residents
using beach or haul seines for recreational
purposes are required to have a commercial
saltwater products license and legibly mark
the seine at both ends with the harvester’s
saltwater products license number.
ʄ Cast nets and seines may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black
drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp,
Spanish mackerel, weakfish and unregulated
species (see p. 11).
ʄ No more than two nets can be fished from
any vessel and no more than one net can be
fished by any person not on a vessel.
Explosives, etc.
The use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals
or the discharge of firearms to kill or harvest
marine life is prohibited in state waters.
R E C R E A T I O N A L G E A R
eRegulations.com
Powered by
Need to Know
On the Go?
Florida Fishing Regulations are
now available online through your
mobile devices!
Foreclosed Land
Deeply Discounted
Recreational and Residential land located in
FL, NC, TX, AR, NY, PA, WA, AZ, NV
888-758-5687
www.dfcland.com
59