Weakfish

New weakfish regualtions took effect July 27, 2010.  The FWC created a Weakfish Management Area in part of Nassau County to address difficulty distinguishing between weakfish, sand seatrout, and weakfish-sand seatrout hybrids.  Additionally, the FWC decreased the recreational bag limit for weakfish in response to a recent stock assessment by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission that indiciates that the weakfish population along the entire Atlantic coast is severly depleted. 

The Weakfish Management Area consists of state waters off Amelia Island and the Saint Marys River and its tributaries. This area is where the majority of genetically-pure weakfish occur in Florida. Inside the Weakfish Management Area, recreational anglers are limited to one weakfish, sand seatrout, OR weakfish-sand seatrout hybrid per person per day with a minimum size limit of 12 inches total length. Outside this area, recreational anglers may harvest up to 100 pounds per person per day of weakfish, sand seatrout, and weakfish-sand seatrout hybrids without size limits.

Current Recreational Regulations for Weakfish-like Fish (Weakfish, Sand Seatrout, and their Hybrid)

*The Weakfish Management Area consists of state waters off Amelia Island and the Saint Marys River and its tributaries.

The Weakfish Management Area (outlined in red). The green box shows the location of the Shave Bridge (FL A1A, FL-200) on the Amelia River.

For more information

• FWC improves weakfish management
• June 2010 Commission Meeting presentation
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission