Extension Of Snook, Redfish, And Spotted Seatrout Regulations In SW Florida Through August 31

Florida regulations require that redfish over 27 inches be released. The intent of this regulation is to protect larger fish (redfish don’t usually spawn until they get larger than 27 inches). Larger fish also produce higher quality and larger numbers of eggs and sperm.

The following regulatory measures in southwest Florida for Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County will be extended through August 31, 2022:

Snook and redfish will remain catch-and-release.
Normal regulations for recreational spotted seatrout harvest have resumed with the addition of a six-fish recreational vessel limit. Commercial harvest has also resumed but harvest is held to the recreational three-fish bag and six-fish vessel limits.
These regulations are for all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County, including Palma Sola Bay, through Gordon Pass in Collier County but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River.

The Commission is currently considering long-term regulation changes for redfish, which could occur when harvest re-opens on Sept. 1, 2022. Normal regulations for snook and seatrout will resume on Sept. 1.

The catch-and-release measures for snook, redfish, and spotted seatrout in all waters from Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County were put in place as part of the prolonged 2017-2019 red tide event response.

Learn more about regulations for these species by visiting MyFWC.com/Marine and clicking on “Recreational Regulations.

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