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Spotted Seatrout

UPDATE

Tampa Bay boundary

Pasco County:

  • Normal regulations have resumed for spotted seatrout in all state waters in Pasco County north of the Pinellas County line, including all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

Tampa Bay (NEW):

  • From July 16-Sept. 16, snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to recent impacts from red tide This applies to all Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay; all Florida waters of Hillsborough County; and all Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County:

  • Spotted seatrout harvest has resumed with a six-fish recreational vessel limit. The daily bag limit is three fish south of the Fred Howard Park Causeway on the Gulf coast.
    • Commercial harvesters are also 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.

Please note, spotted seatrout regulations changed statewide Feb. 1, 2020.

 

Southwest Florida infographic

Spotted Seatrout Management Zones

State and federal waters off Florida

  • Western Panhandle: Escambia County through the portions of Gulf County west of longitude 85 degrees, 13.76 minutes but NOT including Indian Pass/Indian Lagoon.
  • Big Bend: Remaining portion of Gulf County plus Indian Lagoon, and Franklin County through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line.
  • South: Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County.
  • Central East: Palm Beach through Volusia counties.
  • Northeast: Flagler through Nassau counties.

Western Panhandle-Big Bend Seatrout Management Zone

Regulations

Area

seatrout western panhandle zone map

Escambia County through the portions of Gulf County west of longitude 85 degrees, 13.76 minutes but NOT including Indian Pass/Indian Lagoon

 

Limits

Bag limit: 3 per harvester 

Zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip

Slot limit: More than 15" and less than 19" total length 

May possess one over 19 inches per vessel included in the bag limit

Seasons and other regulations

Closed February

Allowable Gear: Hook and line; cast net

Area

seatrout big bend zone map

Remaining portion of Gulf County plus Indian Lagoon, and Franklin County through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line.

 

 

Limits

Bag limit: 5 per harvester 

Zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip

Slot limit: More than 15" and less than 19" total length 

May possess one over 19 inches per vessel included in the bag limit

SW Florida bag limit:

Tampa Bay (NEW):

  • From July 16-Sept. 16, snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to recent impacts from red tide This applies to all Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay; all Florida waters of Hillsborough County; and all Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County:

  • Spotted seatrout harvest has resumed with a six-fish recreational vessel limit in all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County (including Palma Sola Bay but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River) through Gordon Pass in Collier County.

 

Seasons and other regulations

Open year-round in most state waters (see exception below). 

SW Florida: 

  • Tampa Bay (NEW):

    • From July 16-Sept. 16, snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to recent impacts from red tide This applies to all Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay; all Florida waters of Hillsborough County; and all Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

    Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County:

    • Spotted seatrout harvest has resumed with a six-fish recreational vessel limit in all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County (including Palma Sola Bay but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River) through Gordon Pass in Collier County.

Allowable Gear: Hook and line; cast net

Area

seatrout south zone map

Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County.

 

 

Limits

Bag limit: 3 per harvester with exception in SW Florida listed below.

Zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip

Slot limit: More than 15" and less than 19" total length 

May possess one over 19 inches per vessel included in the bag limit

SW Florida bag limit:

Tampa Bay (NEW):

  • From July 16-Sept. 16, snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to recent impacts from red tide This applies to all Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay; all Florida waters of Hillsborough County; and all Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County:

  • Spotted seatrout harvest has resumed with a six-fish recreational vessel limit in all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County (including Palma Sola Bay but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River) through Gordon Pass in Collier County.

Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.

Seasons and other regulations

Open year-round in most state waters (see exception below)

SW Florida: 

  • Tampa Bay (NEW):

    • From July 16-Sept. 16, snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are catch-and-release only in Tampa Bay due to recent impacts from red tide This applies to all Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay; all Florida waters of Hillsborough County; and all Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

    Sarasota Bay through Gordon Pass in Collier County:

    • Spotted seatrout harvest has resumed with a six-fish recreational vessel limit in all state waters south of State Road 64 in Manatee County (including Palma Sola Bay but not including the Braden River or any tributaries of the Manatee River) through Gordon Pass in Collier County.

Allowable Gear: Hook and line; cast net

Area

seatrout central east zone map

Palm Beach through Volusia counties.

 

Limits

Bag limit: 2 per harvester 

Zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip

Slot limit: More than 15" and less than 19" total length 

May possess one over 19 inches per vessel included in the bag limit

Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.

Seasons and other regulations

Closed Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Allowable Gear: Hook and line; cast net

Area

seatrout northeast zone map

Flagler through Nassau counties.

 

Limits

Bag limit: 5 per harvester 

Zero captain and crew bag limit when on a for-hire trip

Slot limit: More than 15" and less than 19" total length 

May possess one over 19 inches per vessel included in the bag limit

Seasons and other regulations

Open year-round

Allowable Gear: Hook and line; cast net