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Freshwater Game Fishing Rules
Special bag and length limits apply to some lakes, rivers (see below) and Fish Management Areas. Other fishes considered to be nongame fishes have no daily bag or possession limits, except as noted in individual Fish Management Area regulations. (Note: Total length is the maximum length of the fish, with the mouth closed and the tail fin pinched together. The best way to obtain this length is to push the fish's snout up against a vertical surface with the mouth closed and the fish laying along a tape measure, then pinch the tail fin closed and determine the total length. Do not pull a flexible tape measure along the curve of the fish.
Black bass (largemouth, Suwannee, redeye, spotted, and shoal bass, individually or in total), only one of which may be 22 inches or longer in total length.
In south Florida: only one bass may be 14 inches in total length or longer.
South and east of the Suwannee River: black bass less than 14 inches in total length must be released immediately.
In the Suwannee River, areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary river, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: black bass less than 12 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Striped bass, white bass, and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which only 6 may be 24 inches or longer in total length.
In the Suwannee River, areas north and west of the Suwannee River, and in any tributary, creek or stream of the Suwannee River: the daily bag limit for striped bass is 3, each of which must be at least 18 inches in total length (20 fish combined bag limit).
Butterfly peacock bass, only one of which may be 17 inches or longer in total length.
Possession limit is two days' bag limit. It is illegal to transport or possess more than two days' bag limit of fish per licensed angler without a commercial license. Exceptions are fish legally acquired from aqua-culturists (fish farmers) for use in aquaria for brood stock, pond stocking or properly marked for the market.
See Floirda Fish Management Area regulations for bag and length limits for lakes in the Fish Management Area system.
Jim Woodruff Reservoir, Lake Seminole: 10 black bass, all of which must be at least 12 inches in total length; 15 striped bass, white bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which no more than 2 may be 22 inches or longer in total length; 30 black or white crappie (speckled perch), in total; 50 panfish (does not include black crappie); 15 pickerel (chain, grass and redfin). Possession limit is 50 fish total, regardless of species.
St. Marys River and it tributaries: 10 black bass, all of which must be at least 12 inches in total length; 2 striped bass, sunshine bass or white bass, both of which must be at least 22 inches in total length; 30 black crappie (speckled perch); 50 total panfish (does not include black crappie); 15 pickerel (chain, grass and redfin).
Lake Talquin, Leon and Gadsden counties: Black bass caught that are shorter than 18 inches in total length and black crappie that are less than 10 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Lake Jackson, Leon County: Black bass caught that are shorter than 18 inches in total length must be released immediately.
Lake Kerr, Marion County, including Little Lake Kerr: No person shall kill or possess any black bass 15 inches or more in total length and less than 24 inches in total length. No person shall take in any one day more than three black bass of which only one may be 24 inches or longer in total length.
Wildcat Lake, Marion County (Ocala National Forest), Black bass must be released immediately.
Edward Medard Reservoir, Hillsborough County: Black bass caught from 15 to 24 inches in total length must be released immediately. Black bass daily bag limit is 3.
St. Johns River Water Management Area (Farm 13, including the Stick Marsh), Indian River and Brevard counties: All black bass must be released immediately.
S.N. Knight Tract, Indian River County (locally known as Kenansville Lake): All black bass must be released immediately.
Lake Weohyakapka (Walk-in-Water), Polk County: Black bass from 15 to 24 inches in total length must be released immediately. Black bass daily bag limit is 3, only one of which may be 24 inches in total length or longer.
Lake Okeechobee, including Harney Pond Canal (C-41) north of S.R. 78 to water control structure S-71; Indian Prairie Canal (C-40) north of S.R. 78 to water control structure S-72; all of Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough; C-38 Canal/Kissimmee River south of water control structure S-65E to S.R 78, Okeechobee County: Black bass from 13 inches to 18 inches in total length must be released immediately; bass less than 13 inches or bass 18 inches or longer may be kept.
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