This is an up-to-date summary of Florida's freshwater fishing rules and regulations. Most browsers can search a web page for particular text (Control-F will often initiate this service). This feature is normally found under the edit menu. It provides a convenient way to search for a particular water body (e.g., Okeechobee), species (e.g., striped bass) or technique (e.g., trotlines). A complete printable version (1.1meg PDF file) of this summary is available [Instructions for using PDF files].
INDEX
Commissioners
Additional Regulatory Links
New Regulation Changes for 2004-2005
General Statewide Bag and Length Limits
Special Bag and Length LimitsClick for Instant Licensing Info
Mussels
License Fees & Exemptions
Methods of Taking Freshwater Fish
Methods of Taking Bait
Fish Management Area Regulations
---Note: The following content sections are on different pages, use your back key to return here if desired---
Mercury Health Advisory
Questions & Answers
Sportfish Restoration
Fish Identification
New "Big Catch" Angler Recognition Program
Regional Offices/Map/Address/Phone Numbers
Florida Boating Regulations and Course
Penalties for Violating these Rules
Florida Bass Conservation Center
Wildlife Alert--Report Violators
ADDITIONAL REGULATORY RESOURCES
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
This summary refers to freshwater sportfishing only, for other regulations see the following:
Saltwater regulations
Freshwater commercial fishing rules (HTML). It is also available in a printable copy in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
The Florida Administrative Code
The Wildlife Code (Adobe Acrobat PDF).
The Florida Constitution (See Article IV, Section 9 for the FWC)
The Florida Statutes (especially Chapters 370 and 372 for FWC issues).
COMMISSIONERS
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Chairman--Rodney Barreto, Miami
Vice Chairman--H. A. Herky Huffman, Enterprise
Richard A. "Dick" Corbett, Tampa
Brian S. Yablonski, Tallahassee
Sandra T. Kaupe, Palm Beach
David K. Meehan, St. Petersburg
Kathy Barco, Jacksonville
Executive Director: Kenneth Haddad
Assistant Executive Director: Victor Heller
Director, Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management: Darrell Scovell
NEW REGULATIONS/CHANGES FOR 2004-2005
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Smith Lake, Washington County is closed to
fishing until May 1, 2006.
Crooked, Grasshopper, Lou, Echo, Quarry
Fish Pond and Hopkins Prairie lakes (Ocala
National Forest), Marion County, are no longer
catch-and-release for black bass. Effective July
1, 2004, statewide black bass bag and length
limits apply.
St. Johns River Water Management Areas of
Lake County (formerly known as Long Farm,
S.N. Knight Lisbon Farm north and south,
S.N. Knight Leesburg Farm, Lowrie Brown
Farm, Eustis Muck Farm, and Walker Ranch),
Lake County, are no longer catch-and-release
for black bass. Effective July 1, 2004, statewide
black bass bag and length limits apply. The
prohibition on using cast nets to take nongame
fish in these areas has been lifted.
FISH MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATION
CHANGES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Suwannee Lake, Suwannee County; Koon
Lake, Lafayette County; Watertown Lake,
Columbia County; and Lake Rachel, Madison
County:
Possession of firearms is now prohibited;
previously, firearms could be possessed but not
discharged.
Lang Lake, Hamilton County:
Possession of firearms is prohibited, except by
written permission of the landowner.
SOUTHWEST REGION
Lake Crago is no longer a Fish Management
Area; it is now a part of Tenoroc Fish Management
Area. Boats must be operated at idle
speed (see page 10).
Tenoroc Fish Management Area,
Polk County:
The 8-inch minimum length limit for bluegill and
redear sunfish on Derby Lake has been changed.
Of the daily bag limit of 20 panfish, anglers may
keep no more than 5 bluegill or redear sunfish 8
inches or longer.
East and West Pasture Lakes now have a 20-
fish daily bag limit for panfish, with anglers restricted
to no more than 5 bluegill or redear sunfish
8 inches or longer.
Cemetery Lake: Anglers may keep no more than
5 bluegill or redear sunfish 8 inches or longer as
part of their 20 panfish daily bag limit.
Hydrilla Lake is no longer a Special Opportunity
fishing lake. General Tenoroc area regulations now
apply to Hydrilla Lake.
Hardee County Park, Hardee County is open
to fishing in designated lakes, with days and
hours of operation and quotas posted at the park
main entrance. Boat anglers must get an entry
pass issued by Hardee County. Bank anglers do
not need an entry pass unless otherwise posted
at the park main entrance.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 6
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Catfish daily bag limit: 6
Firearms, swimming and use of float tubes are
prohibited.
All watercraft must be operated only at idle
_______________________________________________________________________
GENERAL STATEWIDE
BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS
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Special bag and length limits apply to some lakes, rivers (see Special Limits) and Fish Management Areas (see FMAs). Other fishes considered to be nongame fishes have no daily bag or possession limits, except as noted in individual Fish Management Area regulations. (Note: Total length is the maximum length of the fish, with the mouth closed and the tail fin pinched together. The best way to obtain this length is to push the fish's snout up against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and the fish laying along a tape measure, then pinch the tail fin closed and determine the total length. Do NOT pull a flexible tape measure along the curve of the fish. Illustrated instructions on measuring fish and estimating weight are also available from our fish identification and biology page.)
5 Black bass (largemouth, Suwannee, redeye, spotted, and shoal bass, individually or in total), only one of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length.
--In south Florida (see map): only one bass may be 14 inches in total length or longer.
--South and east of the Suwannee River (see map): black bass less than 14 inches in total length must be released immediately.
--In the Suwannee River (see map), areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary river, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: black bass less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.
50 Panfish including bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), flier, longear sunfish, mud sunfish, shadow bass, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), warmouth and redbreast sunfish, individually or in total.
25 Black Crappie (speckled perch) and/or white crappie, individually or in total.
20 Striped bass, white bass, and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which only 6 may be 24 inches or longer in total length.
* In the Suwannee River, areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: the daily bag limit for striped bass is 3, each of which must be at least 18 inches in total length (20 fish combined bag limit).
2 Butterfly peacock bass, only one of which may be 17 inches or longer in total length.
Possession limit is two days' bag limit. It is illegal to transport or possess more than two days' bag limit of fish per licensed angler without a commercial license. Exceptions are fish legally acquired from aqua-
culturists (fish farmers) for use in aquaria for brood stock, pond stocking or properly marked for the market.
(NOTE: It is illegal to possess grass carp without a permit; all grass carp must be released immediately.)
SPECIAL BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS
(Excluding Fish Management Areas)
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
See Fish Management Area regulations for bag and length limits for lakes in the Fish Management Area system.
INDEX
Commissioners
Additional Regulatory Links
New Regulation Changes for 2004-2005
General Statewide Bag and Length Limits
Special Bag and Length LimitsClick for Instant Licensing Info
Mussels
License Fees & Exemptions
Methods of Taking Freshwater Fish
Methods of Taking Bait
Fish Management Area Regulations
---Note: The following content sections are on different pages, use your back key to return here if desired---
Mercury Health Advisory
Questions & Answers
Sportfish Restoration
Fish Identification
New "Big Catch" Angler Recognition Program
Regional Offices/Map/Address/Phone Numbers
Florida Boating Regulations and Course
Penalties for Violating these Rules
Florida Bass Conservation Center
Wildlife Alert--Report Violators
ADDITIONAL REGULATORY RESOURCES
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
This summary refers to freshwater sportfishing only, for other regulations see the following:
Saltwater regulations
Freshwater commercial fishing rules (HTML). It is also available in a printable copy in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
The Florida Administrative Code
The Wildlife Code (Adobe Acrobat PDF).
The Florida Constitution (See Article IV, Section 9 for the FWC)
The Florida Statutes (especially Chapters 370 and 372 for FWC issues).
COMMISSIONERS
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
Chairman--Rodney Barreto, Miami
Vice Chairman--H. A. Herky Huffman, Enterprise
Richard A. "Dick" Corbett, Tampa
Brian S. Yablonski, Tallahassee
Sandra T. Kaupe, Palm Beach
David K. Meehan, St. Petersburg
Kathy Barco, Jacksonville
Executive Director: Kenneth Haddad
Assistant Executive Director: Victor Heller
Director, Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management: Darrell Scovell
NEW REGULATIONS/CHANGES FOR 2004-2005
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
Smith Lake, Washington County is closed to
fishing until May 1, 2006.
Crooked, Grasshopper, Lou, Echo, Quarry
Fish Pond and Hopkins Prairie lakes (Ocala
National Forest), Marion County, are no longer
catch-and-release for black bass. Effective July
1, 2004, statewide black bass bag and length
limits apply.
St. Johns River Water Management Areas of
Lake County (formerly known as Long Farm,
S.N. Knight Lisbon Farm north and south,
S.N. Knight Leesburg Farm, Lowrie Brown
Farm, Eustis Muck Farm, and Walker Ranch),
Lake County, are no longer catch-and-release
for black bass. Effective July 1, 2004, statewide
black bass bag and length limits apply. The
prohibition on using cast nets to take nongame
fish in these areas has been lifted.
FISH MANAGEMENT AREA REGULATION
CHANGES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Suwannee Lake, Suwannee County; Koon
Lake, Lafayette County; Watertown Lake,
Columbia County; and Lake Rachel, Madison
County:
Possession of firearms is now prohibited;
previously, firearms could be possessed but not
discharged.
Lang Lake, Hamilton County:
Possession of firearms is prohibited, except by
written permission of the landowner.
SOUTHWEST REGION
Lake Crago is no longer a Fish Management
Area; it is now a part of Tenoroc Fish Management
Area. Boats must be operated at idle
speed (see page 10).
Tenoroc Fish Management Area,
Polk County:
The 8-inch minimum length limit for bluegill and
redear sunfish on Derby Lake has been changed.
Of the daily bag limit of 20 panfish, anglers may
keep no more than 5 bluegill or redear sunfish 8
inches or longer.
East and West Pasture Lakes now have a 20-
fish daily bag limit for panfish, with anglers restricted
to no more than 5 bluegill or redear sunfish
8 inches or longer.
Cemetery Lake: Anglers may keep no more than
5 bluegill or redear sunfish 8 inches or longer as
part of their 20 panfish daily bag limit.
Hydrilla Lake is no longer a Special Opportunity
fishing lake. General Tenoroc area regulations now
apply to Hydrilla Lake.
Hardee County Park, Hardee County is open
to fishing in designated lakes, with days and
hours of operation and quotas posted at the park
main entrance. Boat anglers must get an entry
pass issued by Hardee County. Bank anglers do
not need an entry pass unless otherwise posted
at the park main entrance.
All black bass must be released immediately.
Sunshine bass daily bag limit: 6
Black crappie daily bag limit: 10
Black crappie less than 10 inches in total
length must be released immediately.
Panfish daily bag limit: 20
Catfish daily bag limit: 6
Firearms, swimming and use of float tubes are
prohibited.
All watercraft must be operated only at idle
_______________________________________________________________________
GENERAL STATEWIDE
BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
Special bag and length limits apply to some lakes, rivers (see Special Limits) and Fish Management Areas (see FMAs). Other fishes considered to be nongame fishes have no daily bag or possession limits, except as noted in individual Fish Management Area regulations. (Note: Total length is the maximum length of the fish, with the mouth closed and the tail fin pinched together. The best way to obtain this length is to push the fish's snout up against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and the fish laying along a tape measure, then pinch the tail fin closed and determine the total length. Do NOT pull a flexible tape measure along the curve of the fish. Illustrated instructions on measuring fish and estimating weight are also available from our fish identification and biology page.)
5 Black bass (largemouth, Suwannee, redeye, spotted, and shoal bass, individually or in total), only one of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length.
--In south Florida (see map): only one bass may be 14 inches in total length or longer.
--South and east of the Suwannee River (see map): black bass less than 14 inches in total length must be released immediately.
--In the Suwannee River (see map), areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary river, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: black bass less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.
50 Panfish including bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), flier, longear sunfish, mud sunfish, shadow bass, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), warmouth and redbreast sunfish, individually or in total.
25 Black Crappie (speckled perch) and/or white crappie, individually or in total.
20 Striped bass, white bass, and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which only 6 may be 24 inches or longer in total length.
* In the Suwannee River, areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: the daily bag limit for striped bass is 3, each of which must be at least 18 inches in total length (20 fish combined bag limit).
2 Butterfly peacock bass, only one of which may be 17 inches or longer in total length.
Possession limit is two days' bag limit. It is illegal to transport or possess more than two days' bag limit of fish per licensed angler without a commercial license. Exceptions are fish legally acquired from aqua-
culturists (fish farmers) for use in aquaria for brood stock, pond stocking or properly marked for the market.
(NOTE: It is illegal to possess grass carp without a permit; all grass carp must be released immediately.)
SPECIAL BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS
(Excluding Fish Management Areas)
Up to Page IndexDown to Bottom WebSite Menu
See Fish Management Area regulations for bag and length limits for lakes in the Fish Management Area system.