Waterbody · Florida
Tampa Bay Fishing Regulations 2026
Tampa Bay fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are redfish, snook, tarpon. 207 current rules across 6 species from FWC.
Species pages for Tampa Bay
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Rules (207)
FWC regulates 207 rules across 6 species at this water.
Snook
Tampa BayIn season
- Season opens
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 28"
- Slot max
- 33"
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"
Indian River LagoonIn 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 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"
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"
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
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 PassClosed
- Status
- 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"
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
Red Drum (Redfish)
Food Shrimp
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.
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.