What's Biting FLPermit regulations
Live crabs on flats and around wrecks. Keys and southeast wrecks in spring are the peak.
Applies to: state and federal waters unless noted
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit inside the SPZ Special Permit Zone (SPZ) boundaryThe Special Permit Zone includes state and adjacent federal waters south of a line running due east from Cape Florida in the Atlantic at 25° 40' North Latitude, waters of Biscayne Bay south of Rickenbacker Causeway, and south of a line just south of Cape Sable running due west through federal waters at 25° 09' North Latitude. | open now Closed April 1-July 31 | 22" fork length | 1 per harvester | State waters: Hook and line only. Federal waters: Hook and line and spearing. Vessel Limit: No more than 2 per vessel Prohibited Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
| Permit, all other state and federal waters outside the SPZ All other state and federal waters outside the SPZ | open now Open year-round | Not less than 11" or more than 22" fork length; may possess 1 over 22" included in the per person bag limit | 2 per harvester | State waters: Hook and line only. Federal waters: Hook and line and spearing. Vessel Limit: No more than 2 over 22" per vessel Prohibited Gear: harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; snatching prohibited Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
- Pompano Endorsement Zone (PEZ) is a zone created that allows commercial fishermen who hold a pompano endorsement (PE) to use gill nets legally for pompano in federal waters off Florida. This zone is from federal waters lying between 25°09' North Latitude (Cape Sable) and 26°00' North Latitude (Hurricane Pass in Collier County) in the Gulf of America.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29. Review flags: The page lists 'Permit inside the SPZ' and 'Permit, all other state and federal waters outside the SPZ' as separate regulation blocks; species names are taken as written.; The PEZ section appears to describe a commercial endorsement zone and does not contain recreational season/size/bag limits; it is included in general_notes only.
Seasonal pattern
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