Anglers targeting popular species must be aware of significant changes, particularly regarding Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Greater Amberjack, Gag Grouper, and Stone Crab.
Inshore Species: Snook & Spotted Seatrout
The FWC utilizes a regional management approach for several inshore species, which is crucial for Southwest Florida’s unique coastal ecosystems.
Snook: Open Seasons and Limits
Snook harvest regulations are split into two key regions covering Southwest Florida:
| Management Region | Area Boundaries (General) | Open Season for Harvest | Daily Bag Limit | Slot Limit (Total Length) |
| Charlotte Harbor | Venice Airport area south to Vanderbilt Beach Rd, including the Caloosahahatchee, Myakka, and Peace Rivers. | March 1 – April 30 and October 1 – November 30 | 1 fish per person | 28–33 inches |
| Southwest | Vanderbilt Beach Rd south through the Florida Keys to the Monroe/Miami-Dade county line, including Everglades National Park. | March 1 – April 30 and October 1 – November 30 | 1 fish per person | 28–33 inches |
Timing Note: Snook is closed to harvest during the crucial spawning months of May 1 – September 30 and the cooler period of December 1 – end of February in both the Charlotte Harbor and Southwest regions.
Spotted Seatrout: New Regional Approach Proposed
In 2025, FWC is moving toward a regional management approach for spotted seatrout, similar to snook and redfish. While specifics are still being finalized, proposed changes aim to establish nine regions with varying recreational bag limits and closed seasons to better account for local stock differences.
Proposed Changes for the Gulf (Pending Final FWC Hearing):
- Establish new regional bag limits and closed seasons.
- Allow one fish over the slot limit per vessel (or per person if fishing from shore).
Current Standard Gulf Regulations (Until a rule change is implemented):
- Bag Limit (South of Fred Howard Park Causeway, Pinellas County): 3 per harvester.
- Slot Limit: 15–19 inches total length.
- Vessel Limit: 1 fish over 19 inches per vessel is allowed (included in the bag limit).
🌊 Offshore Species: Gag Grouper and Greater Amberjack
Recreational anglers heading into the Gulf of Mexico waters must pay close attention to the compressed seasons for popular reef fish.
Gag Grouper: Extremely Limited Gulf Season
Due to stock concerns and federal rebuilding plans, the Gag Grouper season in Gulf state and federal waters remains highly restrictive.
- Affected Species: Gag Grouper ($Mycteroperca$ $microlepis$)
- Area Affected: Gulf state and federal waters (excluding Monroe County).
- Timing: The 2025 recreational season is set to open September 1 and will close sharply at 12:01 a.m. on September 15, 2025—a very short 14-day window.
- Limits: 2 per person per day (within the 4-grouper aggregate limit), with a 24-inch minimum total length.
Greater Amberjack: Harvest Closed in 2025
The recreational harvest for Gulf Greater Amberjack ($Seriola$ $dumerili$) is projected to remain closed for the entire 2025-2026 season due to federal deductions for past quota overages.
- Area Affected: Gulf state and federal waters.
- Timing: Recreational harvest is closed through August 31, 2026.
- Action Required: All Greater Amberjack caught must be immediately released.
🦀 Crustacean Regulations: Stone Crab
The recreational harvest of stone crab claws is a major fall and winter tradition in Southwest Florida.
- Affected Species: Stone Crab ($Menippe$ $mercenaria$)
- Season Timing: The stone crab season opens every year on October 15 and closes on May 1.
- New Trap Requirement (Effective 2024-2025 Season): All recreational and commercial plastic or wood stone crab traps must have an unobstructed escape ring measuring $2\frac{3}{16}$ inches in diameter located within a vertical exterior trap wall.
- Recreational Registration: Anglers aged 16 and older who use traps (even if otherwise exempt from a license) must complete a no-cost online Recreational Stone Crab Trap Registration each year.
🔗 Additional Resources and Sources
It is the angler’s responsibility to know and follow all current fishing regulations. The rules are subject to change by the FWC and federal agencies based on stock assessments and management goals.
| Species/Topic | Source/Authority | Link for Latest Information |
| Snook Regulations | FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) | MyFWC.com/Snook |
| Grouper & Snapper (Including Gag Grouper & Red Snapper) | FWC & NOAA Fisheries | MyFWC.com/Groupers |
| Stone Crab Regulations (Season & Trap Rules) | FWC | MyFWC.com/StoneCrab |
| Spotted Seatrout (Current & Proposed Rules) | FWC | MyFWC.com/SpottedSeatrout |
| Gulf Federal Seasons (Including Amberjack) | NOAA Fisheries | NOAA Fisheries Southeast |
| Recreational Fishing License & Permits | FWC | GoOutdoorsFlorida.com |
