Bonefish regulations
Sight fishing the flats of Biscayne Bay and the Keys with shrimp, crabs or flies. Catch and release only.
Applies to: state and adjacent federal waters
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonefish Statewide | open now Open year-round | — | Catch-And-Release fishery | The use of a multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait to harvest or attempt to harvest bonefish is prohibited. Catch-and-release only fishery. Tournament exemption permit eliminated effective Sept. 1, 2013. |
- Bonefish is a Catch-And-Release fishery.
- Peak bonefish season is generally March through October, though they can be caught year-round in the Keys.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-09-12. Review flags: The page states 'Catch-And-Release fishery' which implies a bag limit of 0 for retention, but does not explicitly state '0' in a numeric format. Interpreted as bag_per_person: 0.; The page mentions 'multiple hook' prohibition but does not define 'multiple hook' or specify if this applies to artificial lures or only natural bait (text says 'in conjunction with live or dead natural bait').
Seasonal pattern
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
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Aug
Sep
Oct
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Dec