Florida's saltwater fishing regulations are set by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and shift each year as fish populations are assessed. Below are the current rules for Clearwater Beach (Florida Gulf Coast) — check MyFWC.com before keeping a fish, because seasons occasionally change mid-year.

Inshore Species

Snook

  • Slot: 28" – 33" total length (Gulf)
  • Bag: 1 per angler per day
  • Open: Sep 1 – Nov 30, Mar 1 – Apr 30 (Gulf)
  • Closed: Dec 1 – Feb 28/29, May 1 – Aug 31 (catch & release only)
  • $10 snook permit required to keep

Redfish (Red Drum)

  • Slot: 18" – 27" total length
  • Bag: 1 per angler per day · 2 per vessel
  • Some local Tampa Bay / Pinellas zones are catch-and-release only — check FWC boundary map
  • Year-round (subject to emergency closures)

Spotted Sea Trout

  • Slot: 15" – 19" total length
  • Bag: 3 per angler per day (only 1 fish over 19" allowed per vessel, counted toward the bag)
  • Year-round on Gulf coast

Tarpon

  • Catch-and-release only — any tarpon over 40" must remain in the water at all times
  • $51.50 tarpon tag required to kill/possess (1 per angler per year)
  • Circle hooks required for natural bait

Flounder

  • Minimum: 14" total length
  • Bag: 5 per angler per day

Sheepshead

  • Minimum: 12" total length
  • Bag: 8 per angler per day · 50 per vessel

Black Drum

  • Slot: 14" – 24"
  • Bag: 5 per angler per day

Nearshore & Pelagic Species

Spanish Mackerel

  • Minimum: 12" fork length
  • Bag: 15 per angler per day

King Mackerel

  • Minimum: 24" fork length
  • Bag: 2 per angler per day

Cobia

  • Minimum: 36" fork length
  • Bag: 1 per angler per day · 2 per vessel

Offshore Reef Species

Gag Grouper

  • Minimum: 24" total length
  • Bag: 2 per angler per day (combined in aggregate grouper limit)
  • Gulf state recreational gag grouper season has been significantly shortened since 2022 (recent years opened only for a limited fall window). Verify current dates at MyFWC.com

Red Grouper

  • Minimum: 20" total length
  • Bag: 2 per angler per day (aggregate)

Black Grouper

  • Minimum: 24" total length

Red Snapper

  • Minimum: 16" total length
  • Bag: 2 per angler per day
  • Short federal season, typically June 1 – late July; verify each year
  • Descending device required for released fish

Vermilion Snapper (Mingo)

  • Minimum: 10" total length
  • Bag: 10 per angler per day (within the 20-fish aggregate Gulf snapper limit)

Mangrove Snapper

  • Minimum: 10" total length
  • Bag: 5 per angler per day (part of aggregate snapper limit)

Greater Amberjack

  • Minimum: 34" fork length
  • Bag: 1 per angler per day
  • Seasonal closures — check FWC

Triggerfish

  • Minimum: 15" fork length
  • Bag: 1 per angler per day
  • Seasonal closures

Universal Rules

  • Circle hooks required when using natural bait for many reef species and tarpon
  • Descending devices required for released reef fish in federal waters
  • Measure correctly — total length (snout to pinched tail) vs fork length (snout to fork of tail) — specified per species
  • Keep a measuring device on you at all times
  • You may not fillet fish at sea — they must be landed whole or with head/skin attached for identification

Penalties

  • Undersized fish: $50–$500 per fish
  • Over the bag limit: $50 per fish over
  • Out-of-season species: up to $500 + license revocation
  • No license: $50–$100 + price of license
  • Repeat offenses multiply penalties

Stay Current

FWC updates regulations regularly. The official reference:

  • MyFWC.com — Florida Fish & Wildlife
  • Fish Rules app — free iOS/Android app, updated live with current regs and your GPS location
The Fish Rules app is every Florida angler's secret weapon. Free, accurate, and it uses your GPS to show you exactly what rules apply where you're fishing. Download it before you cast a line.
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