What's Biting FLRedfish (Red Drum) regulations
Sight fish tailing reds on shallow flats, or work oyster bars and mangrove points with cut bait, gold spoons and soft plastics. Fall schooling is the peak.
Applies to: state waters
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Drum (Redfish) Panhandle Region boundaryThe western boundary is located at the Florida-Alabama border and the region extends east near Alligator Point. Does not include all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee River and its tributaries. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Big Bend Region boundaryThe western boundary is located near Alligator Point. Includes all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee River and its tributaries. The region extends east and south to the Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties. This region includes all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Tampa Bay Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties and extends south to State Road 64 in Manatee County. Includes all waters of the Braden River and Manatee River, and its tributaries. Does not include the Anclote River and its tributaries. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person; 2 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Sarasota Bay Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south near the Venice Municipal Airport. Includes Palma Sola Bay. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person; 2 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Charlotte Harbor Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located near the Venice Municipal Airport, and extends south to near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" and no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person, 2 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Southwest Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located near Vanderbilt Beach rd, in Collier County, and extends around the Florida Keys to the Monroe/Miami-Dade County line. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish per vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Southeast Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at the Martin-Palm Beach county border and the region extends south to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line. This region includes the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Special Regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Indian River Lagoon Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach and extends south to Martin-Palm Beach County line. Does not include the Loxahatchee River or its tributaries. | open now Catch-and-Release only. | — | Catch-and-Release only. | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
| Red Drum (Redfish) Northeast Region boundaryThe northern boundary is located at the Florida-Georgia border and extends south to Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. | open now Open year-round | Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length | 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish per vessel limit | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast nets. Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bowfishing, and snatch hooking) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots 4 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site. Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore Captain and Crew bag limit prohibited while on a for-hire trip Commercial harvest prohibited |
- Management of red drum in Florida is considered a success story. In the late 1980s red drum was overfished, thus several emergency closures were established to reduce fishing pressure and allow the stock to rebuild. In 1989, the slot limit of 18-27 inches, the bag limit of one fish per person and a closed season from March-May were put in place. Red drum stocks have rebounded and are currently exceeding the FWC's management goal of 40% escapement in most parts of Florida.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29.
Seasonal pattern
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Forecasts by region
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Panhandle
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Big Bend and Nature Coast
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Tampa Bay
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Southwest and Ten Thousand Islands
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Florida Keys
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Southeast Florida
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Treasure Coast
- Redfish (Red Drum) in Space Coast
- Redfish (Red Drum) in First Coast