Commercial
Information
Commercial saltwater products include fish, invertebrates & plants.
Saltwater products do not include non-living shells and salted, cured, canned or smoked seafood.
Commercial Saltwater Fishing Licenses
Latest News
The Commission is considering potential changes to the flounder fishery. Learn more about these changes.
Hurricane Irma Fisheries Disaster Funding - For updates contact Dan Ellinor, Alan Peirce or Devin Resko at 850-487-0554.
Wholesale dealers interested in selling lionfish?
Special commercial fishing regulations apply when in Biscayne National Park.
Federal News
Commercial fishermen who sold any spiny lobster, flounder, or tuna and were impacted by tariffs from foreign governments, may be eligible for relief as part of the USDA Seafood Trade Relief Program. Learn more.
Temporary Increase in Vermilion Snapper Commercial Trip Limit in South Atlantic
Commercial closure for red snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters starts Sept. 5, 2020
NOAA Fisheries announces gear modifications for the Snapper-Grouper fishery
Swordfish general commercial permit retention limit adjustment for July-December 31, 2020
Florida Atlantic Blue Crab Trap/Pot Fishery Gear Regulations and Guidelines (Click Southeast Blue Crab under Outreach)
Hurricane Irma
Fisheries Disaster Funding
Regulations by Species - Fish
Species/Licenses
Does not include ballyhoo or menhaden
License requirements: SPL only
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: None
Trip/bag limit: See 68B-50
- Directed harvest: unlimited
Closed season: None
Other Regulations
Local baitfish restrictions apply
Species/Licenses
Includes halfbeaks/balao, and silver stripe halfbeaks)
License requirements: SPL (L & PS optional. See Other regulations for more.)
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: None
Trip/bag limits:
- See 68B-50
- SPL with Lampara Net Endorsement
- 10 boxes per vessel per day. Box max dimensions 4.25’ X 2’ X 2’
- SPL only 5 gallons per day
- SPL with Purse Seine endorsement incidental bycatch 10 gallons per day
Closed season: Use of a lampara net prohibited Aug. 1 – Aug. 31 in state and federal waters.
Other Regulations
Allowable gear: cast net, hook and line, landing or dip net, lampara net.
Directed harvest with a Lampara Net requires Lampara Net endorsement.
Incidental bycatch with a purse seine requires Purse Seine endorsement.
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: None
Trip/bag limit:
- Atlantic: See ASMFC limits
- Gulf: directed harvest: unlimited
Closed season: None
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 14-24 inches total length. Maximum size limit applies to sale.
Trip/bag limit: 500 lbs. per person or vessel per day, whichever is less. See 68B-50. Bag limit applies regardless of the possession or use of additional vessels.
Closed season: None
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
Prohibition on multiple or snatch hook applies to state and federal waters.
Harvest prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
License Requirements
Gulf: SPL and RS
Atlantic: SPL, federal permit
Limits and Seasons
Size limit:
- Atlantic: 11 inches total length
- Gulf: 10 inches total length
Trip/bag limit:
- Atlantic:
- Gulf: Directed harvest: unlimited
Closed season:
- Atlantic:
- Gulf: None
Other Regulations
See full state rules at 68B-14
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
South Atlantic snapper grouper permit required in Atlantic. Black Sea Bass Pot endorsement required in Atlantic.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 12 inches fork length
Trip/bag limits: State and federal waters north of Miami-Dade/Monroe county line is 7,500 pounds per vessel per day. Other state and federal waters: none. See 68B-43.
Closed seasons: None
Other Reguations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Species/Licenses
Also known as ling.
Licenses: SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 33 inches fork length
Trip/bag limit:
- Atlantic/Monroe County: 2 fish per person, per day. Maximum of 6 per vessel.
- Gulf (excluding Monroe County): 1 per person, 2 per vessel.
- See 68B-19
Closed season: None
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
May not possess a recreational bag limit and a commercial bag limit at the same time.
Size limit applies to sale.
Species/License
Also known as Mahi.
Licenses required: SPL and RS (federal permit required in Atlantic)
To apply for a vessel, dealer or operator permit, interested parties should contact the Permits Office, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33702; or by phone at 727-824-5326.
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 20 inches fork length
Trip/bag limit: No limit using spear or hook and line.
- Gulf: Incidental bycatch using gear other than spearing and hook and line: 10 fish per person.
- Atlantic: Limited by federal permit.
- See 68B-41
Closed season: None
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Allowable gear: hook and line, longline gear (federal waters ONLY), and spearing.
Size limit applies to purchase and sale of fish.
Species and License
Includes Gulf, Southern, Summer and Fringed.
Licenses required: SPL and RS.
NEWS: The Commission is considering potential changes to the flounder fishery. Learn more about these changes.
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 12 inches fork length
Trip/bag limit:
- Directed harvest: unlimited
- Incidental bycatch: 50 pounds in shrimp trawls.
- See 68B-48.
Closed season: None
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Allowable gear: beach or haul seine, cast net, hook and line and spearing.
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
In Volusia County, spearing with barbed spear having more than 3 prongs prohibited.
Size limit applies to sale of fish.
License Requirements
SPL, RS and federal permit
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Gulf ONLY: Managed under an IFQ program. Must possess IFQ allocation and follow established protocols. Learn more.
Limits and Seasons
Size limit:
- Atlantic: 16 inches fork length
- Gulf: 14 inches fork length
Trip/bag limit:
- Atlantic: 25 pounds
- Gulf: directed harvest: unlimited
See 68B-14
Atlantic size limits & bag limits also apply in Gulf state and federal waters south of 25°09 N. Lat. Gulf includes all Gulf waters North of 25°09 N. Latitude.
Size limit applies to imported fish.
14” size limit applies to imported fish.
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Licenses required
SPL, RS and federal permit
Limits and Seasons
Size limit:
Greater amberjack: 36 inches fork length (including imports)
Banded rudderfish and lesser amberjack: 14-22 inches fork length
Almaco jack: 20 inches fork length in Atlantic state waters.
Closed season: March, April and May.
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Follow limits in permit.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Federal permit required for commercial harvest in federal waters and to exceed the recreational bag limit in state waters.
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 24 inches fork length
Trip/bag limits: See
Closed seasons: Regional
Other Regulations
For more, visit the king mackerel commercial regulations page.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Federal permit if fishing in federal waters.
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 12 inches fork length
Trip/bag limits: See 68B-23
New vessel limits established. Learn more.
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Allowable gear: beach or haul seine, cast net, hook and line, or by spearing.
Species and Licenses
Includes harvest of live saltwater finfish, invertebrates and plants, primarily for the aquarium trade.
License requirements: SPL, RS and Marine Life Endorsement
Regulations
Visit Marine Life page or, for full rule, visit 68B-42.
Species and License
Also known as white, fantail or redeye.
License requirements: SPL and RS
Other Regulations
See more on mullet regulations by visiting the commercial mullet page. See full rule at 68B-39
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Species and Licenses
Also known as black mullet.
Licenses required: SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
See mullet page or 68B-39 for details on trip/bag limits and regional seasons
Size limit: 11 inches fork length with a 10 percent allowance by weight for undersize fish
Other Regulations
See more on mullet regulations by visiting the commercial mullet page. For full rule see 68B-39
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Required Licenses
SPL, RS and federal permit
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: Not less than 11 inches or more than 20 inches fork length
Trip/bag limits: no directed commercial harvest. 100 incidental bycatch outside SPZ when fishing with nets targeting other species in federal waters.
For more on limits and closed seasons, visit the permit/pompano page or see the full rule at 68B-35.
Other Regulations
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Special Commercial Permit Zone (SPZ) includes all state and federal waters south of a line running due east from Cape Florida and south of a line running due west from Cape Sable.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Must have pompano endorsement to use gill and entangling nets in the pompano endorsement zone (federal waters between Hurricane Pass and Cape Sable in the Gulf).
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 11-20 inches fork length
Trip/bag limit:
- without pompano endorsement
- Direct harvest: 250 trip limit
- Incidental bycatch with gillnets in federal waters: 100
- with pompano endorsement in the PEZ
- unlimited
For more on trip limits and closed seasons, visit the pompano/permit page or full rule at 68B-35.
Other Regulations
For more, visit the pompano/permit page or full rule at 68B-35.
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Must transit all harvested fish directly through
state waters to land without stopping and must be landed within the PEZ.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
For more, visit the pompano/permit page or full rule at 68B-35.
Size limit: 24 inches fork length
Trip/bag limit: 2 per person or per vessel, whichever is less
Other Regulations
For more, visit the pompano/permit page or full rule at 68B-35.
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
State waters: hook and line only.
Federal waters: hook and line and spearing.
License Requirements
Atlantic: SPL, RS and federal permit
Gulf: SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit:
- Atlantic: 14 inches total length
- Gulf: none
Trip/bag limit:
- Atlantic: 50 pounds daily vessel limit.
- Gulf: directed harvest: unlimited
Closed season:
- Atlantic: Jan. 1-April 30
- Gulf: none
Other Regualations
For full rule, visit 68B-14.
For Atlantic federal regulations, visit SAFMC.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Atlantic: a person harvesting other species for commercial purposes during the closure may harvest and possess three red porgy. During this closed season, the purchase, sale, or exchange of any red porgy harvested from state waters of the Atlantic Ocean is prohibited.
License Requirements
SPL and federal highly migratory species permit
Limits and Seasons
Trip/bag limit: 1 per person per day or 2 per vessel, whichever is less, in state waters.
Federal closures apply in state waters.
Other Regulations
For more, visit the shark page or 68B-44.
For federal information, visit HMS (NOAA).
Must remain in whole condition.
Purchase and sale of sharks landed after the closure date is prohibited.
License requirements apply.
Spearing prohibited.
Hook and line only in state waters.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 12 inches total length
Trip/bag limit:
- directed harvest: unlimited
- incidental bycatch: 50 pounds shrimp trawls
Closed season: none
Other Regulations
For full rule, visit 68B-59
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Allowable gear for directed harvest: beach or haul seine, cast net, hook and line, and spearing.
Licenses Required
SPL, RS, and federal permit
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Gulf ONLY: Managed under an IFQ program. Must possess IFQ allocation and follow established protocols. Learn more.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 15 to 24 inches total length
Trip/bag limit: 50 fish per person per day or a vessel limit of 100 when two or more licensed fishermen are aboard.
Closed seasons: regional
NEWS: No commercial harvest from the Hernando/Pasco county line south through Gordon Pass in Collier County through May 31, 2021.
Other Regulations
For more, visit the spotted seatrout page or 68B-37.
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Allowable gear: cast net or hook and line. Spearing prohibited.
Simultaneous possession of gill nets and seatrout is prohibited.
Towing extra vessel to exceed bag limit is prohibited.
Sale of seatrout inventory will be allowed for 30 days after the season closes.
License Requirements
SPL, RS and federal highly migratory species permit
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 47 inches lower jaw fork length with head attached or 25 inches cleithrum to keel length if head removed, or 33 pounds dressed. Learn more about measuring.
Size limits apply to fish damaged by shark bites. Lower jaw FL = a straight-line measurement from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the caudal fin.
Cleithrum to keel length = a curved measurement from the point of the cleithrum that provides the measurement along the body contour to the anterior portion of the caudal keel.
The cleithrum is the semicircular bony structure
at the posterior edge of the gill opening. A dressed fish may have its head, viscera, and fins removed, but its backbone and remaining carcass must remain intact and not be halved, quartered or otherwise further reduced.
License Requirements
SPL, RS and federal permit
Other Regulations
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Gulf ONLY: Managed under an IFQ program. Must possess IFQ allocation and follow established protocols. Learn more.
License Requirements
SPL, RS and federal permit
Limit and Seasons
Size limit:
Gulf: 14 inches fork length
Atlantic: 12 inches fork length
Other Regulations
For more, visit 68B-14, SAFMC or GMFMC
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Size limit applies to imported fish.
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
License Requirements
SPL and RS
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 18 inches total length
Trip/bag limit: 10 per person, per day or vessel, whichever is less.
Incidental bycatch: 2 per person, per day or vessel, whichever is less.
Closed season: None.
Other Regulations
For full rule visit 68B-49.
Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait or any snatch hook.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (head & tail intact).
Allowable gear: hook and line. Spearing
prohibited.
Size limit applies to sale of fish.
Regulations by Species - Crabs, Shrimp, Shellfish
Species and License
License Requirements: SPL, RS and blue crab endorsement (VH, VS, VN)
Regulations
Learn more about traps and regulations such as size and bag limits on blue crab page.
For full rule, visit 68B-45
Gear and harvest specifications and size and bag limits differ for the various fishery segments (hard crabs, bycatch, peeler crabs, or live bait.)
Florida Atlantic Blue Crab Trap/Pot Fishery Gear Regulations and Guidelines (Click Southeast Blue Crab under Outreach)
Special regulations apply for this species when in Biscayne National Park.
License Requirements
SPL
ML endorsement optional
Bio-med optional
A biomedical collection permit is required for collecting blood (crabs must be released alive in the area where collected.)
Limits
Size limit: none
Trip/bag limit: 25 per person per day or 100 per person per day with marine life endorsement.
Closed season: none
Other Regulations
For full rule, visit 68B-46.
Allowable gear: by hand or gig.
Limits extend to docks, piers, bridges, beaches and
adjacent fishing sites.
Licenses Required
SPL only
Regulations
Possession of eggbearing lobster prohibited.
Possession prohibited in designated area of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Licenses
SPL + RS + C (trap) or CD (Dive) or N (Bully Net)
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 3” carapace 5 ½” tail
Trip/bag limit:
- Trap fishery: None.
- Bully Net: 250 lobster vessel limit.
- Dive Fishery: 250 lobster vessel limit.
Closed season: April 1 – Aug. 5
Other Regulations
For more details, visit lobster page.
For full rule, visit 68B-24
A Guide to Closed Areas for Commercial Spiny Lobster Trap Fishing
Allowable gear: by diving, traps, hand-held net, hoop net (diameter no longer than 10’), or bully net (diameter no larger than 3’).
Specific restrictions and requirements depend on the method of harvest.
Special regulations apply for this species when in Biscayne National Park.
Licenses
SPL + AP (if in Apalachicola)
NEW: Harvest of all wild oysters from Apalachicola Bay are temporarily suspended and on-the-water possession of oyster harvesting equipment (tongs) is prohibited. Staff will bring this item back before the Commission soon for final consideration and, if approved, these measures will remain in place through Dec. 31, 2025. Learn more.
Regulations
Size limit: 3” in greatest dimension.
For more details, including additional season and bag limit information, visit the commercial oyster regulations page.
For full rule, visit 68B-27 FAC
Shellfish Harvester Training course is required annually by all commercial oyster and clam harvesters in order to receive or renew a Shellfish Endorsement issued by FWC or an Apalachicola Bay Oyster Harvesting License (ABOHL) or Aquaculture Certificate of Registration.
Regulations
For full rule, visit 68B-53
Trip/bag limit: ≤250 individual meats per 1 lb. sample.
Bycatch of other species prohibited.
No person shall harvest calico scallops for commercial purposes within or without the waters of the state using any gear other than an otter trawl. 68B-53.003
Licenses
SPL
ML# required for the harvest of some species.
See: “Marine Life” Regulations.
The term “Live Shellfish” includes mollusks and
echinoderms, such as clams, snails, starfish, brittle stars, urchins, etc.
Regulations
For full rule, visit 68B-26
Trip/bag limit:
- Manatee County: 2 live shellfsh of any
single species per day. - Lee County: Harvest prohibited year-round.
- All other counties: None.
Manatee and Lee county prohibitions on harvest do not apply to shells that are empty when collected or to live oysters, hard clams, and sunray venus clams.
Species and Licenses
Includes Brown, Pinkspotted, Pink, White, Roughneck, Roughback, Seabob
Licenses required include
SPL + RS
Other licenses required in Tampa Bay and St. Johns River (TB#, DS#, LS#)
Regulations
For full rule, see 68B-31 FAC
Trip/bag limits:
- Food Shrimp: Regional
- Live Shrimp: 5 gallons dead shrimp, heads on, except in NE region, 1 gallon.
Regional harvest gear and gear restrictions, size and bag limits, closed seasons, license
requirements, and fishing gear limitations apply.
Big Bend closed area: Harvest of shrimp is prohibited in areas of Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties landward of a line beginning at Bailey’s Bluff in Pasco County progressing to the St. Marks Lighthouse in Wakulla County, as shown in the map.
Special regulations apply for this species when in Biscayne National Park.
Shrimp may not be harvested as live bait and food shrimp on the same trip.
Turtle Excluder Device (TED) required on all otter and skimmer trawls, except single try net
or roller from trawl. Otter and skimmer
trawls must have bycatch reduction device (BRD) installed.
Species and Licenses
Includes sheepswool, yellow, grass, finger, wire,
reef, and velvet.
License requirements: SPL and sponge endoresement
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 5 inches across the top when wet. Measure in greatest dimension across the top. Applies to possession and sale within the state.
Other Regulations
For full rule, see 68B-28.
Hooks must be 5” wide.
Diving prohibited, except in the Big Bend & Southwest Florida areas.
Licenses
SPL + RS + Stone Crab Endorsement (X#, or I#)
Limits and Seasons
Size limit: 2 ¾” claw (changing to 2 7/8" starting Oct. 1, 2020)
Trip/bag limit: None.
- Incidental bycatch: 5 gallons.
Closed season: May 16 (changing to May 2 in 2021) – Oct. 14
Other Regulations
For more, visit the stone crab page.
For full rule, see 68B-13
Landings limited to legal size claws measured
by a straight line from the elbow to the tip of the lower immovable finger.
Transport and sale of intact crabs prohibited.
License, trap and harvest specifications apply.
Special regulations apply for this species when in Biscayne National Park.
Commercial Licensing System Online
Contact for Commercial Fisheries
Division of Marine Fisheries Management
2590 Executive Center Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-487-0554
Marine@MyFWC.com
Fax: 850-488-7152
