Current FWC regulations
Season
Statewide
Year-round
Size limit
No statewide length limit. Special limits apply on some waters — e.g., Lake Okeechobee (10" minimum), Perdido River (9" minimum).
Bag limit
25 per person / day statewide. Some waterbodies allow up to 30.
Legal gear
Hook and line, pole and line. Jugs, trotlines, and set hooks illegal in most public waters.
Notes
Statewide rules updated 2023 to remove waterbody-specific limits and standardize on 25/day.
These limits are summarized from public FWC data and reviewed monthly. Florida regulations can change on short notice — always verify at MyFWC.com/Fishing before keeping a fish.
Best time to fish
Prime bite November through March. Spring spawn (Feb-March) puts big slabs in shallow water around lily pads and brush.
Best baits and tackle
Live Missouri minnows (top choice), small jigs (1/32 or 1/16 oz), plastic tubes and grubs in chartreuse, white, or black-chartreuse.
Where to find them
Suspended in open water around ledges and brush piles in cold months; shallow spawning areas (2-6 ft) around vegetation and cover in spring.
Sources
Cross-referenced with the FWC Saltwater Regulations and FWC Freshwater Regulations. Reviewed July 2026.
Species photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons contributors and public agencies (USFWS / NOAA / state fisheries). Licensed CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, or public domain.