Freshwater Fishing Regulations

New regulations effective July 1, 2018

The 2018-2019 summary of Florida's freshwater fishing rules and regulations is available:

• E-Regulations online or
• Complete printable version (10 MB) or
• Select items from the table of contents below.

Other regulatory resources include:

• Complete official rules can be found in the Wildlife Code online (see Chapter 68)
• Florida Statutes (for freshwater fishing see Chapter 379, F.S.)
• The Florida Constitution (FWC Article IV, Section 9)
• Commercial Freshwater Fishing Regulations

Table of Contents

Introduction
New Rule Changes
Feature Article - Conservation Highlights from FWC
Fishing Tips from the Pros
Fishing License Requirements and Fees
Do I Need a License?
Methods of Taking Fish
Methods of Taking Bait
Release/Movement of Fish
Taking and Possession of Freshwater Mussels
General Statewide Bag and Length Limits
Special Bag and Length Limits
Fish Management Areas
Regional Map
Northwest
North Central
Northeast
Southwest
South
FAQ