UPDATED: FWC approves holistic management approach for spotted seatrout

At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new management regions and regulations for spotted seatrout as a part of FWC’s holistic regional management approach. These new regulations will go into effect on April 1, 2026.

The rule changes:

• Establish nine management regions for spotted seatrout.
• Establish regional regulations for recreational and commercial bag limits, slot limits and closed seasons.

These regions and regulations are part of the FWC’s holistic management approach for Florida's most popular inshore fisheries. This approach takes a more holistic view of the fishery by evaluating multiple metrics, including fishing, stakeholder experiences and environmental factors, at a smaller regional scale. It improves our understanding of regional differences in environmental conditions and stakeholder experiences and provides greater flexibility to address localized concerns.

Panhandle

• Recreational
  • Open season: March 1–Jan. 31.
  • Closed season: February.
  • Bag limit: Three fish per person.
  • Slot limit: 15-19 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: One fish over-slot allowed per vessel or per person if fishing from shore.
• Commercial
  • Open season: Jun. 1–Oct. 31.
  • Closed season: Nov. 1–May 31.
  • Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs).
  • Slot limit: 15–24 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None

Big Bend

• Recreational
  • Open season: Year-round.
  • Closed season: None.
  • Bag limit: Five fish per person.
  • Slot limit: 15-19 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: One fish over-slot allowed per vessel or per person if fishing from shore.
• Commercial
  • Open season: June 1–Oct. 31.
  • Closed season: Nov. 1–May 31.
  • Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs).
  • Slot limit: 15–24 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None.

Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast

• Recreational
  • Open season: Year-round.
  • Closed season: None.
  • Bag limit: Three fish per person.
  • Slot limit: 15-19 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: One fish over-slot allowed per vessel or per person if fishing from shore.
• Commercial
  • Open season: June 1–Oct. 31.
  • Closed season: Nov. 1–May 31.
  • Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs).
  • Slot limit: 15–24 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None.

Indian River Lagoon

• Recreational
  • Open season: Jan.1–Oct. 31.
  • Closed season: Nov.1–Dec. 31.
  • Bag limit: Two fish per person.
  • Slot limit: 15-19 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None.
• Commercial
  • Open season: May 1–Sept. 30.
  • Closed season: Oct. 1–April 30.
  • Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs).
  • Slot limit: 15–24 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None.

Northeast

• Recreational
  • Open season: Year-round.
  • Closed season: None.
  • Bag limit: Three fish per person.
  • Slot limit: 15-19 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None.
• Commercial
  • Open season: June 1–Nov. 30.
  • Closed season: Dec. 1–May 31.
  • Bag limit: 50 fish (1 SPL);100 (≥2 SPLs).
  • Slot limit: 15–24 inches.
  • Over-slot allowance: None.

This innovative regional management strategy has been implemented for some of Florida’s most popular inshore species, including redfish and snook, and now spotted seatrout. This management approach has been met with strong support from stakeholders across the state.

For the full Commission Meeting February 4-5 agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.”

For current spotted seatrout annual reviews, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Spotted Seatrout.” These documents provide a summary of the management metrics in each new management region.