Waterbody · Florida
Tampa Bay Fishing Regulations 2026
Tampa Bay fishing regulations as of 2026-05-07: 208 current rules from FWC. Anglers target redfish, snook, tarpon.
Species pages for Tampa Bay
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Rules (208)
FWC regulates 208 rules across 6 species at this water.
Snook
Tampa BayOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Alafia RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
All Species
- Gear
- Angling Only
Anclote RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Big BendOut of 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 RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Caloosahatchee RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Charlotte HarborOut of season
- Season opens
- Oct 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Cow Pen Slough CanalIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Curry CreekIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Everglades National ParkIn 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 RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Indian River LagoonOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 14
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
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 RiverIn 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 RiverIn 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"
NortheastOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 14
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Ochlockonee BayIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Ochlockonee RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Palma Sola BayIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
PanhandleOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Peace RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Phillippi CreekIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Sarasota BayOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
SoutheastOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Dec 14
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
SouthwestOut of 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"
West Palm Beach CanalOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 32"
Withlacoochee RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Aug 31
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
Florida statewide
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 28"
Red Drum
All The Florida State Waters
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
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"
Captain And CrewClosed
- Status
- Closed
Reshaped from bag_limit=0 (closure marker)
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
Indian River Lagoon RegionCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
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"
Florida statewide
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Spotted Seatrout
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
Tampa Bay Region
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
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.
Tarpon
Boca Grande Pass
- Gear
- Prohibited
bottom-weighted jigs are not allowed
Gulf And Atlantic State And Federal Waters
- Daily bag
- 1 per person per year
(tag required)
State And Federal Waters Of The Gulf And AtlanticCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Max size
- 40"
- Gear
- Prohibited
Tarpon is a catch-and-release only fishery. One tarpon tag per person per year may be purchased when in pursuit of a Florida state or world record. Vessel, transport and shipment limited to one fish. MUST remain in the water unless in pursuit of a state or world record using a tarpon tag Snagging, snatch hooking, spearing and the use of a multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited
Red Drum (Redfish)
Tampa Bay
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 2 fish/vessel
Food Shrimp
Tampa BayOpen
- Status
- Permitted
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Tampa Bay?
FWC regulates fishing on Tampa Bay.
What species can I target on Tampa Bay?
Tampa Bay is best known for redfish, snook, tarpon. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
When was this last updated?
These rules were last verified against FWC on 2026-05-07. 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. Last verified .