Species We Read

Peaks April to August in the Keys. Atlantic state waters, which is how FWC treats the ocean side of Monroe County: 20 in fork length and 5 per person or 30 per vessel, whichever is less, and captain and crew on a for-hire trip keep none. FWC sets Gulf state waters at no minimum size and 10 per person or 60 per vessel and does not say which rule applies in Monroe County water on the Florida Bay side, so the stricter Atlantic rule is the safe reading there (FWC dolphinfish page, read 2026-09-30). Federal Atlantic waters past 3 miles: 20 in fork length, 10 per person and 54 per vessel (SAFMC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Peaks November to March; summer fish hold deeper. No minimum size and 2 per person (FWC, read 2026-09-30); in federal waters also 2 per person, landed with head and fins intact (SAFMC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Peaks December to April; late summer is the thin part of the year. 63 in lower jaw fork length and 1 billfish per person per day (FWC, read 2026-09-30); the federal table sets the same 63 in and no bag of its own (NOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2026, read 2026-09-30). A federal HMS Angling permit is required in federal waters, and a sailfish you intend to release may not be taken from the water in federal waters, or in state waters if you hold that permit (FWC). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Peaks winter and spring. No minimum size and 2 per person or 10 per vessel, whichever is greater; no federal HMS Angling permit is needed in state or federal waters (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Available in the Straits mostly spring into early summer, and an offshore fish here rather than a reef-line one. Federal rules apply in state and federal waters: a federal HMS Angling permit is required, the minimum is 27 in curved fork length and the bag is 3 per person per day (FWC billfish and tuna page; NOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2026; both read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

No closed season. 47 in lower jaw fork length; 1 per person, up to 4 per private vessel, 6 per charter boat and 15 per headboat, hook and line only, and none for for-hire captain and crew; an HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat permit is required in federal waters (FWC; NOAA HMS Recreational Compliance Guide 2026; both read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Open year round in Atlantic state and federal waters, and FWC applies the Atlantic rule to all Monroe County state waters: 12 in total length, up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Private-boat anglers need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, and reef fish gear rules apply, including a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Open year round in Atlantic state and federal waters, including all Monroe County state waters: 18 in total length, 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Private-boat anglers need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, and reef fish gear rules apply, including a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Open year round. State waters 10 in total length and 5 per person, federal waters 12 in total length and 10 per person, both within the 10 snapper aggregate bag (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Much of this reef line lies outside the 3 mile Atlantic state line, so the rule changes on the run out. Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Open 1 May to 31 December and CLOSED 1 January to 30 April in Atlantic state and federal waters, which FWC applies to all Monroe County state waters on both the ocean and Florida Bay sides. 24 in total length; 1 gag or black grouper within the 3 grouper and tilefish aggregate; no more than 2 black grouper per vessel; captain and crew on a for-hire trip keep none (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Gag, which shares that one-fish bag, has been CLOSED in the Atlantic since 2 August 2026, so the shared bag is not a gag permission. Past the 9 mile state line on the Gulf side the federal Gulf rule applies instead: 4 per person within a 4 grouper aggregate, closed 1 February to 31 March seaward of 20 fathoms (FWC Gulf table, read 2026-09-30). Private-boat anglers need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, and reef fish gear rules apply, including a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Catch and release only in Florida: one tarpon tag per person per year is sold only in pursuit of a state or world record, a tarpon over 40 in must stay in the water, and it is hook and line only (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

Catch and release only in Florida (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

The Keys are inside FWC's Special Permit Zone: 22 in fork length, 1 per harvester, no more than 2 per vessel, CLOSED 1 April to 31 July, and hook and line only in state waters (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

FWC Southwest region, which runs through the Keys to the Miami-Dade line: open year round, an 18 to 27 in total length slot, 1 per person and 2 per vessel (FWC, read 2026-09-30). Red drum may not be kept in federal waters, Gulf or Atlantic (50 CFR 622.92(b) and 697.7(f), eCFR read 2026-09-30). Regulations change, so check the current rules for the species you are targeting before treating a rating as a plan.

FWC Southwest, Keys to Miami-Dade: CLOSED December 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 and May 1 to September 30, 2026; open October 1 to November 30, 2026. Slot 28 to 33 in total length; 1 per person; hook and line only; fishing license and snook permit; no for-hire captain/crew bag. FWC https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/, read 2026-10-06. Check the current rules before fishing.