What's Biting FL

Black Crappie (Speckled Perch) regulations

Black Crappie (Speckled Perch)
Pomoxis nigromaculatus · Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Minnows and small jigs trolled or drifted over open water in winter, then in the pads and grass edges during the late winter spawn.

Applies to: statewide freshwater

Species / zoneSeasonSizeBagNotes
Crappie (speckled perch)
Statewide
open now
Open year-round
—25 Crappie (speckled perch).Keep game fish intact: black bass, striped bass and white bass or their hybrids, peacock bass, or black crappie and panfish (for black crappie and panfish, only in waters where minimum-length or slot-size limits for these fish apply) may not be filleted, nor their head or tail fin removed, until the angler has completed fishing for the day.

Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29. Review flags: The page does not state whether seasons are open year-round; this is inferred from the absence of closure dates.; The page does not state which waters the rules apply to beyond 'statewide'; 'coast' is set to 'both' as freshwater rules apply statewide.; The page does not state license requirements.; The page does not state gear restrictions for most species except shad/herring (hook and line).; The page does not state size limits for panfish, crappie, shad/herring, grass carp, alligator gar, or sturgeon.; The page does not state bag limits for grass carp, alligator gar, or sturgeon (possession is restricted/prohibited).

Seasonal pattern

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