Waterbody · Florida
Indian River Lagoon Fishing Regulations 2026
Indian River Lagoon fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are redfish, snook, spotted seatrout. 338 current rules across 4 species from FWC.
Rules (338)
FWC regulates 338 rules across 4 species at this water.
Spotted Seatrout
Indian River LagoonClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
Commercial, Oct. 1–April 30 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Florida-Georgia Border And North Of The Indian River Lagoon RegionOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Max size
- 19"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round May not possess fish larger than 19 inches total length
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of A Line Extending Due East From A Point Located At 29°01.755’N, 80°54.160’W In Volusia County And North Of The Martin-Palm Beach County LineIn season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Max size
- 19"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
May not possess fish larger than 19 inches total length
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Charlotte Harbor Region And All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Southeast RegionOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Martin-Palm Beach County Line And North Of The Miami-Dade/Monroe County LineOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Sarasota Bay Region And North Of A Line Extending Due West From A Point Located At 26°15.227’N, 81°49.412’W In Collier CountyOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Tampa Bay Region And North Of 27°04.727’ North Latitude In Sarasota CountyOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Lying South Of The Westernmost Point Of Fred Howard Park Causeway In Pinellas County And North Of The Western Terminus Of State Road 64 In Manatee CountyOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
All Florida Waters And Adjacent Federal Waters Of The Gulf Of Mexico Lying East Of 84°20.800ꞌ West Longitude In Franklin County And North Of A Line Running Due East And Due West From The Westernmost Point Of Fred Howard Park Causeway (28°09.350’N, 82°48.398’W)Open
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
Open year-round one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
Anclote RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Does not include Palma Sola Bay or the Anclote River and its tributaries.
Big BendClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
Biscayne National ParkOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Braden RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Does not include the Braden or Manatee rivers.
Charlotte HarborClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
Cypress LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of the Withlacoochee River, Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee.
Everglades National ParkClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of Lake Okeechobee and all waters of Everglades National Park.
Kissimmee RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of the Withlacoochee River, Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee.
Lake HatchinehaClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of the Withlacoochee River, Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee.
Lake KissimmeeClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of the Withlacoochee River, Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee.
Loxahatchee RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries and all waters of the St. Johns River and its tributaries.
Manatee RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Does not include the Braden or Manatee rivers.
NortheastClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Dec. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
PanhandleClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs
Sarasota BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
SoutheastClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
SouthwestClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
State And Adjacent Federal WatersIn season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Jan 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 19"
one fish over 19 inches per vessel or, if fishing from shore, one fish over 19 inches per person, included in the bag limit.
Tampa BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Oct 31
- Daily bag
- 100 fish
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 24"
- Gear
- None
Commercial, Nov. 1–May 31 Commercial Commercial, ≥2 SPLs Recreational
Withlacoochee RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
excluding all waters of the Withlacoochee River, Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee.
Florida statewideClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Min size
- 15"
Towing extra vessel to exceed bag limit is prohibited.
Snook
Indian River LagoonIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 14
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Alafia RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Anclote RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Big BendIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Biscayne National ParkOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Braden RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Caloosahatchee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Charlotte HarborIn season
- Season opens
- Oct 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Cow Pen Slough CanalOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Curry CreekOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Everglades National ParkOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Hillsboro CanalOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Hillsborough RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Kissimmee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Lake OkeechobeeOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Loxahatchee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Manatee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Miami CanalOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Myakka RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
North New River CanalOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
NortheastIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 14
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Ochlockonee BayOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Ochlockonee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Palma Sola BayOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
PanhandleIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Peace RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Phillippi CreekOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Sarasota BayIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
SoutheastIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 14
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
SouthwestIn season
- Season opens
- Oct 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
St. Johns RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Tampa BayIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
West Palm Beach CanalOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Withlacoochee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Red Drum
Anclote RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Biscayne National ParkOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 2 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Braden RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 2 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Florida Waters
- Gear
- Seines
beach or haul seines measuring no larger than 500 square feet of mesh area, no larger than 2 inches stretched mesh size, not constructed of monofilament
Loxahatchee RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 2 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Lytle Avenue/South Causeway In New Smyrna Beach And Extends South To Martin-Palm Beach County LineCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Catch-and-Release only.
Manatee RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 2 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Ochlockonee BayOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Ochlockonee RiverOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Palma Sola BayOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 2 fish vessel limit
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 27"
Red Drum (Redfish)
Indian River Lagoon RegionCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Catch and Release in the Indian River Lagoon Region
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Indian River Lagoon?
FWC regulates fishing on Indian River Lagoon.
What species can I target on Indian River Lagoon?
Indian River Lagoon is best known for redfish, snook, spotted seatrout. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize FWC's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.