Regulations
Pick your county, see the rules that apply
Gulf state waters
FWC region
Sarasota County spans two of FWC's regions and the rules are not the same on both sides. Pick the water you fish.
Slot check
Slot limit 28-33 in. Keep only within the slot.Bag 1 per anglerSeason open today
This fish: 20 in

snook

Gulf state waters
Slot
28-33 in
Bag
1
Measured total length
FWC manages this one by region. These are the Sarasota Bay region's rules. The northern coastal boundary is located at State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south to 27°04.727' North Latitude, near the Venice Municipal Airport.
Season: Mar 1 - Apr 30 and Sep 1 - Nov 30
  • A snook permit is required to keep one, on top of a saltwater fishing license.
68B-21 F.A.C. · verified 2026-09-26

redfish

Gulf state waters
Slot
18-27 in
Bag
1
Per vessel
2
Measured total length
FWC manages this one by region. These are the Sarasota Bay region's rules. The northern coastal boundary is located at State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south to 27°04.727' North Latitude, near the Venice Municipal Airport.
Season: Open year-round
  • The vessel limit varies by region: 2 fish from Tampa Bay south and in the Southeast, 4 in the Panhandle, Big Bend, and Northeast.
68B-22 F.A.C. · verified 2026-09-26

speckled trout

Gulf state waters
Slot
15-19 in
Bag
3
Measured total length
FWC manages this one by region. These are the Sarasota Bay region's rules. The northern coastal boundary is located at State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south to 27°04.727' North Latitude, near the Venice Municipal Airport.
Season: Open year-round
  • You may keep one fish over 19 inches per vessel, or one over 19 inches per person when fishing from shore. It counts inside the daily bag limit.
  • The daily bag varies by region: 3 fish in most of the state, 5 in the Big Bend, 2 in the Indian River Lagoon.
68B-37 F.A.C. · verified 2026-09-26

tarpon

Gulf state waters
Slot
no size limit
Bag
0
Measured total length
Season: Open year-round
  • Catch and release only. Harvest is prohibited without a tag.
  • Killing or possessing one requires a tarpon tag, one per person per year, and is intended for a record attempt.
68B-46 F.A.C. · verified 2026-09-26

flounder

Gulf state waters
Slot
14 in min
Bag
5
Measured total length
Season: Dec 1 - Oct 14
68B-54 F.A.C. · verified 2026-09-26

sheepshead

Gulf state waters
Slot
12 in min
Bag
8
Measured total length
Season: Open year-round
  • During March and April the vessel limit is 50 fish.
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

mangrove snapper

Gulf state waters
Slot
10 in min
Bag
5
Measured total length
Season: Open year-round
  • Counts inside the 10-fish snapper aggregate bag limit.
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

black drum

Gulf state waters
Slot
14-24 in
Bag
5
Measured total length
Season: Open year-round
  • One fish over 24 inches may be kept, counted inside the daily bag limit.
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

pompano

Gulf state waters
Slot
11 in min
Bag
6
Measured to the fork
Season: Open year-round
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

spanish mackerel

Gulf state waters
Slot
12 in min
Bag
15
Measured to the fork
Season: Open year-round
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

cobia

Gulf state waters
Slot
36 in min
Bag
1
Per vessel
2
Measured to the fork
Season: Open year-round
  • Vessel limit of 2 fish, or 1 per person, whichever is fewer.
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

tripletail

Gulf state waters
Slot
18 in min
Bag
2
Measured total length
Season: Open year-round
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

jack crevalle

Gulf state waters
Slot
no size limit
Bag
-
Measured total length
Season: Open year-round
  • An unregulated species: the statewide default is 2 fish or 100 pounds per person per day, whichever is more.
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

gag grouper

Gulf state waters
Slot
24 in min
Bag
2
Measured total length
Season: Sep 1 - Sep 30
  • Counts inside the 4-fish grouper aggregate bag limit.
  • The season is set by executive order each year. Verify the current dates at myfwc.com before you go.
F.A.C. 68B · verified 2026-09-26

Not legal advice. Regulations are a convenience copy and may be out of date; verify current rules at myfwc.com before keeping any fish.