Fishing rules for Islamorada

63" lower-jaw fork length minimum; 1 billfish per person per day; open year-round. Almost always released: a fish you mean to release stays in the water in federal waters, and any landed billfish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours.

Minimum size

63" lower-jaw fork length

Bag limit

1 billfish per person per day

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Federal HMS Angling permit required in federal waters only.

• A sailfish you intend to release may not be removed from the water in federal waters, or in state waters on a boat that holds a federal HMS permit.
• All landed billfish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours (800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov).

No executive order affecting sailfish was found on 2026-10-23. The 1-billfish limit reads as a combined limit for all billfish.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

20" fork length minimum; 5 per person or 30 per private boat per day, whichever is less (charters: 5 per paying customer, none for captain and crew); open year-round.

Minimum size

20" fork length

Bag limit

5 per person or 30 per private boat per day, whichever is less; charters 5 per paying customer

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

• Hook and line or spearing.
• Captain and crew of for-hire boats may not keep a bag limit.

The 5 / 30 limits took effect May 1, 2022. Because FWC bars possessing more than 5 per person in Florida waters, the state limit effectively governs a boat returning to Islamorada from federal waters.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23In effect since 2022-05-01

No minimum size; 2 per person or 10 per boat per day, whichever is greater; open year-round. No federal HMS permit is needed for blackfin in state or federal waters.

Bag limit

2 per person or 10 per boat per day, whichever is greater

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. No HMS permit needed for blackfin.

Blackfin is not a federally managed Atlantic tuna, so the FWC limit governs fish landed in Florida; no separate federal record.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

No minimum size; 2 per person per day; open year-round. The federal limit is the same (landed with head and fins intact).

Bag limit

2 per person per day

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

Federal Atlantic rule is identical (SAFMC wahoo page; 50 CFR 622.277(a)(2)(i)), so no separate federal record.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

24" fork length minimum; 3 per person per day in Monroe County (2 on the rest of Florida's Atlantic coast); open year-round; hook and line or spearing only. Federal waters off the Keys also allow 3.

Minimum size

24" fork length

Bag limit

3 per person per day in Monroe County

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

• Hook and line and spearing only.

Federal rules match (50 CFR 622.380(b) and 622.382(a)(1)), so no separate federal record.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

36" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day and no more than 2 per boat, whichever is less; open year-round. The same limits apply in federal waters.

Minimum size

36" fork length

Bag limit

1 per person per day or 2 per boat, whichever is less

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

• Spears, gigs, hook and line, seine and cast net are legal gear (spearing is banned around Islamorada; see the spearfishing rule).

Federal rule confirmed in 50 CFR 622.382(b)(1)(i) (effective November 21, 2022); no separate federal record. No 2026 executive order affects cobia.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

47" lower-jaw fork length (or 25" cleithrum to keel) minimum; 1 per person, up to 4 per private boat (6 per charter boat); open year-round; hook and line only; every landed swordfish reported to NOAA within 24 hours. Almost all Islamorada swordfishing is in federal waters, where the HMS Angling permit is required.

Minimum size

47" lower-jaw fork length, or 25" cleithrum to keel

Bag limit

1 per person, up to 4 per private boat (6 per charter boat, 15 per headboat; none for captain and crew)

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Federal HMS Angling permit required in federal waters.

• Hook and line only.
• Report every landed swordfish to NOAA within 24 hours (800-894-5528).

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

12" total length minimum; up to 10 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.

Minimum size

12" total length

Bag limit

Up to 10 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Free State Reef Fish Angler designation needed when fishing for this species from a private boat (anglers 16 and over; renewed annually; not needed on a licensed charter).

• Reef fish gear rules: with natural bait, non-stainless-steel hooks (non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N, but are best practice here).
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (effective April 1, 2023).

Gear rules from the FWC gear-rules page (Atlantic state waters). Biscayne National Park special rules do not apply here.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

10" total length minimum and 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate in state waters (12" and 10 per person in federal waters); open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.

Minimum size

10" total length (12" in federal waters)

Bag limit

5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate (10 in federal waters)

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Free State Reef Fish Angler designation needed when fishing for this species from a private boat (anglers 16 and over; renewed annually; not needed on a licensed charter).

• Reef fish gear rules: with natural bait, non-stainless-steel hooks (non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N, but are best practice here).
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (effective April 1, 2023).

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

18" total length minimum; 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.

Minimum size

18" total length

Bag limit

5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Free State Reef Fish Angler designation needed when fishing for this species from a private boat (anglers 16 and over; renewed annually; not needed on a licensed charter).

• Reef fish gear rules: with natural bait, non-stainless-steel hooks (non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N, but are best practice here).
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (effective April 1, 2023).

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Black and gag 24", red 20" total length minimum; 3 grouper per person per day with only 1 gag or black among them; black and red closed Jan 1 – Apr 30. Gag is closed from Aug 2, 2026 by FWC executive order (normally open May 1 – Aug 1). Reef fish gear rules and the State Reef Fish Angler designation apply.

Minimum size

Black and gag 24", red 20" total length

Bag limit

3 grouper per person per day, only 1 of them gag or black (none for charter captain and crew)

Closed

Jan 1 – Apr 30

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Free State Reef Fish Angler designation needed when fishing for this species from a private boat (anglers 16 and over; renewed annually; not needed on a licensed charter).

• Reef fish gear rules: with natural bait, non-stainless-steel hooks (non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N, but are best practice here).
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (effective April 1, 2023).
• Landed with head and fins intact.
• Goliath and Nassau grouper may never be harvested.

The Jan 1 – Apr 30 closure applies to black, red and gag. Gag is additionally closed Aug 2 – Dec 31, 2026 under an FWC executive order; federal waters reopen gag May 1, 2027. The record is set to expire on April 30, 2027 so the gag reopening date is re-checked.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23Due to change 2027-04-30

16" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day; open May 1 – Oct 31 (closed Nov 1 – Apr 30); the same in federal waters. Reef fish gear rules apply.

Minimum size

16" fork length

Bag limit

1 per person per day

Closed

Nov 1 – Apr 30

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Free State Reef Fish Angler designation needed when fishing for this species from a private boat (anglers 16 and over; renewed annually; not needed on a licensed charter).

• Reef fish gear rules: with natural bait, non-stainless-steel hooks (non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N, but are best practice here).
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (effective April 1, 2023).
• Spears, gigs, hook and line, seine and cast net are legal gear statewide, but spearing is banned around Islamorada (see the spearfishing rule).

Federal Atlantic rules are identical, so no separate federal record.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

28" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day; closed in April; the same in federal waters. Reef fish gear rules apply.

Minimum size

28" fork length

Bag limit

1 per person per day

Closed

Apr 1 – Apr 30

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Free State Reef Fish Angler designation needed when fishing for this species from a private boat (anglers 16 and over; renewed annually; not needed on a licensed charter).

• Reef fish gear rules: with natural bait, non-stainless-steel hooks (non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N, but are best practice here).
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (effective April 1, 2023).

Federal Atlantic rule is identical (SAFMC: 28" FL, 1 per person, closed April 1–30). The Gulf 34" minimum does not apply to Monroe County.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

15–36" fork length slot, with 1 fish over 36" per person or boat per day (whichever is less); 2 per person, 6 per boat; open year-round; applies in state and adjacent federal waters off Monroe County.

Slot

15–36" fork length (1 over 36" per boat)

Bag limit

2 per person, 6 per boat per day

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

Barracuda is not federally managed; the Florida rule reaches adjacent federal waters.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Catch-and-release only. Hook and line only; no snagging, spearing or multiple hooks with natural bait. Tarpon over 40" must stay in the water. A $51.50 tarpon tag allows one fish per person per year, only when pursuing a state or world record.

Harvest

Catch-and-release only

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. Tarpon tag ($51.50, tax collector offices only) needed only to keep a fish for a record.

• Hook and line only.
• Snagging, snatch hooking, spearing and multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait are prohibited.
• Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in the water.

Applies in state and federal waters. Boca Grande Pass gear rules on the FWC page are Gulf-coast only.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Catch-and-release only, everywhere in Florida. No multiple-hook rigs with natural bait; bonefish may not be speared.

Harvest

Catch-and-release only

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered. A licence is still needed for catch-and-release fishing.

• Multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait are prohibited (since Sept. 1, 2013).
• May not be harvested by spearing.

Everglades National Park (Florida Bay) applies Florida's rules, so the same release-only rule holds there.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

22" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day and no more than 2 per boat; closed Apr 1 – Jul 31; hook and line only in state waters (spearing allowed in federal waters). No multiple hooks with natural bait; no snatching. Islamorada is inside the Special Permit Zone.

Minimum size

22" fork length

Bag limit

1 per person per day, no more than 2 per boat

Closed

Apr 1 – Jul 31

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

• State waters: hook and line only.
• Multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait prohibited; snatching prohibited.
• May not be speared in state waters.

The 2026 FWC closure notice (03-30-2026) confirms the April 1 – July 31 closure is current. Outside the SPZ a different slot applies: do not use those numbers here.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

28–33" total length slot; 1 per person per day; hook and line only; snook permit required. Closed Dec 1 – end of February and May 1 – Sept 30 (Monroe County follows FWC's Southwest snook region). Charter captain and crew may not keep snook.

Slot

28–33" total length

Bag limit

1 per person per day (none for charter captain and crew)

Closed

Dec 1 – Feb 29; May 1 – Sep 30

Licence

Florida saltwater licence plus a snook permit ($10 annual; $50 five-year for residents) to take or attempt to take snook, including from shore; licence-exempt anglers are also permit-exempt.

• Hook and line only.
• May not be speared.
• Must remain whole until landed ashore.

All of Monroe County, bay side and ocean side, is in FWC's Southwest snook region, not the Atlantic Southeast region. "End of February" is stored as 02-29 so the range covers leap years. Everglades National Park adds a cap of 20 fish per person and 10 of one species.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

18–27" total length slot; 1 per person per day, 2 per boat; open year-round; hook and line or cast net only; no multiple hooks with natural bait; must stay whole until landed. Harvest is prohibited in federal waters.

Slot

18–27" total length

Bag limit

1 per person per day, 2 per boat (none for charter captain and crew)

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

• Hook and line or cast net only; spearing and snatch hooking are illegal.
• Multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait prohibited.
• Must remain whole until landed ashore.
• A 4-fish per person transport limit applies when travelling away from a fishing site by vehicle.

Monroe County is in FWC's Southwest red drum region; the Atlantic Southeast numbers are identical. The federal no-harvest rule is a separate record.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

15–19" total length slot, with one fish over 19" per boat (or per shore angler); 3 per person per day; open year-round; hook and line or cast net only.

Slot

15–19" total length (1 over 19" per boat, or per shore angler)

Bag limit

3 per person per day (none for charter captain and crew)

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt; customers on a licensed charter are covered.

• Hook and line or cast net.
• Multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait prohibited; snatching prohibited.
• May not be speared.
• Must remain whole until landed ashore.

Regional seatrout rules took effect April 1, 2026; FWC's Southwest region explicitly includes all waters of Monroe County.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23In effect since 2026-04-01

The yellow-buoyed Sanctuary Preservation Areas off Islamorada (Alligator Reef, Cheeca Rocks, Davis Reef, Hen and Chickens, Conch Reef) are closed to all fishing, including spearing and bait netting; stow gear while passing through. Catch-and-release trolling was once allowed at Alligator and Conch, but NOAA's 2025 rules remove that exception in federal waters, so treat both as no-fishing.

• No fishing by any means and no removing or possessing marine life inside an SPA.
• No touching or standing on coral; use the mooring buoys and never anchor on coral.
• The Conch Reef Conservation Area (research only) is closed to entry without a permit.

Zone boundaries are from 15 CFR 922 Subpart P, Appendix V. NOAA's Restoration Blueprint took effect in federal sanctuary waters on March 5, 2025 but was blocked in state waters; it also expands Alligator Reef SPA to the 90-ft contour and phases in a no-anchoring rule for SPAs in 2027.

Source: NOAA Florida Keys National Marine SanctuaryLast verified 2026-10-23

Throughout the sanctuary: no anchoring on coral; 4 knots / no wake within 100 yards of reef markers, residential shorelines, stationary boats and divers-down flags (except in marked channels); idle speed in posted areas; tie to a mooring buoy where one is provided.

• No anchoring on living coral in water under 40 ft where the bottom can be seen.
• Except in marked channels, no more than 4 knots / no wake within 100 yards of reef warning markers, residential shorelines, stationary vessels and divers-down flags.
• Use mooring buoys where provided; in SPAs anchoring is prohibited when a buoy is available.
• Do not damage or remove markers, mooring buoys or boundary buoys.

These sanctuary-wide rules (15 CFR 922.163) apply in state and federal waters.

Source: NOAA Florida Keys National Marine SanctuaryLast verified 2026-10-23

Spearfishing is banned in state waters from Long Key north to the Miami-Dade County line, which takes in Islamorada out to 3 nautical miles. Snook, tarpon, bonefish and permit may not be speared. Spearing is also banned within 100 yards of a public fishing pier or any bridge where public fishing is allowed, and powerheads, bangsticks and rebreathers are prohibited.

Licence

Regular saltwater licence (the free shoreline licence does not cover taking fish by swimming or diving).

• No spearfishing in Monroe County state waters from Long Key north to the Miami-Dade County line.
• No spearing within 100 yards of a public swimming beach, a public fishing pier or a bridge where fishing is allowed.
• Powerheads, bangsticks and rebreathers are prohibited.
• Species that may never be speared include billfish, sharks, bonefish, tarpon, goliath and Nassau grouper, snook, spotted seatrout, red drum, pompano, permit, tripletail and the ornamental reef fish families.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Anyone taking or attempting to take saltwater fish in Florida, including landing fish caught in federal waters, needs a Florida saltwater fishing licence unless exempt: under 16, Florida residents 65 and over, customers on a licensed charter or guide boat, anglers on a licensed pier, and a few more.

Licence

Resident annual $17; non-resident 3-day, 7-day or annual. Buy at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, the Fish|Hunt Florida app, tax collectors and tackle shops.

Exemptions (myfwc.com/license/recreational/do-i-need-one): youth under 16; resident seniors 65+; anglers on a licensed for-hire vessel; anglers on a licensed pier; free saltwater fishing days; certain residents on public assistance (from land only); residents fishing in their home county with a pole and line that has no reel; active-duty residents home on leave; holders of the resident disabled person's licence.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Florida residents who only fish from shore or a structure attached to shore (bridges, piers, seawalls, the Fills) can get a no-cost Resident Shoreline Licence. It is not valid from a boat or from an island reached by boat; non-residents need a regular licence even from shore. A snook permit is still needed to keep snook.

Licence

Resident Annual Saltwater Shoreline Licence: no cost (Florida residents only).

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Fishing for snapper, grouper, hogfish, amberjack or gray triggerfish from a private boat anywhere in Florida requires the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, renewed every year, even for anglers who are otherwise licence-exempt. Not needed on a licensed charter or guide boat.

Licence

Free; anglers 16 and over on private boats; annual renewal; no exemptions.

Species list: mutton, yellowtail, red and vermilion snapper; gag, red and black grouper; greater and lesser amberjack; banded rudderfish; almaco jack; gray triggerfish; hogfish.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

When fishing for reef fish (snappers, groupers, amberjacks, gray triggerfish, hogfish, sea bass, red porgy, tilefish) from a boat you need non-stainless-steel hooks with natural bait, a dehooking device, and a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready. In federal waters only a descending device counts.

• Natural bait south of 28° N (all of the Keys): non-stainless-steel hooks; non-offset circle hooks are required only north of 28° N but recommended everywhere.
• A dehooking device on board.
• A descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use (state waters, since April 1, 2023); federal waters require a descending device.

Source: FWC MyFWC.comLast verified 2026-10-23

Netting bait off the bridges, the Fills and shorelines is legal with a cast net up to 14 ft stretched length; no gill or entangling nets of any size. Inside Everglades National Park the cast-net limit is 20 ft diameter and nets may not be dragged.

• Cast nets: stretched length (horn to lead line) no more than 14 ft.
• Other nets: mesh area no more than 500 sq ft; gill and entangling nets prohibited.

Source: Florida Administrative Code 68B-4.0081 (Cornell LII mirror)Last verified 2026-10-23

Fish only from the old spans and bridges designated for fishing (Channel Two, Channel Five and Long Key are the Islamorada-area ones). Fishing from a state road bridge that FDOT has posted with no-fishing signs is a traffic infraction. Obey the shared-use rules posted at each bridge end; no motor vehicles on the fishing bridges.

Licence

Florida saltwater licence, or the free resident shoreline licence.

• Fishing from a posted state road bridge is a noncriminal traffic infraction (F.S. 316.1305).
• Spearing is banned within 100 yards of a bridge where public fishing is allowed.

The designated fishing spans around Islamorada are on FWC's Florida Keys fishing pier list and the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (hours 8 a.m. to sundown, no fee).

Source: Florida Statutes 316.1305Last verified 2026-10-23

Village parks are daytime-only and the best-known ones prohibit fishing: Founders Park, Library Beach and Anne's Beach are launch, swim and picnic sites, not fishing spots. Shore anglers use the designated fishing bridges, the Fills and Southwinds Park's fishing walkway.

• Founders Park (MM 87): no fishing; sunrise to sunset; non-resident fees.
• Library Beach Park (MM 81.5): no fishing; 8 a.m. to sunset.
• Anne's Beach (MM 73.5): no fishing; sunrise to sunset.
• Green Turtle Hammock Preserve (MM 81.2): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; kayak launch, no motorised craft.

Source: Village of IslamoradaLast verified 2026-10-23

Running the Florida Bay backcountry inside Everglades National Park needs the park's free online Boater Education certificate and a park entrance pass ($35 per boat for 7 days or $70 annual). Water under two feet deep is pole-and-troll only (no combustion engine), some creeks are idle-speed, and every island is closed to landing except the few listed by the park.

Licence

Boater Education certificate plus an entrance pass, in addition to the Florida fishing licence.

• Boater Education certificate (free, online, no expiry) required to operate any motorised boat in park waters.
• Entrance pass for private boats ($35 for 7 days, $70 annual, recreation.gov); not needed when only transiting without stopping.
• Pole/troll zones: any part of Florida Bay less than two feet deep; propulsion only by poling, paddling or electric motor.
• Idle speed in posted creeks (Marker 42 Creek, The Boggies, Shell Creek, Nest Key, McCormick Creek); no-motor zones in Joe Bay, Snag Bay and the creeks north of Long Sound.
• All Florida Bay keys are closed to landing except North Nest Key, Little Rabbit Key, Carl Ross Key (summer day use) and Cape Sable (camping by permit).

Zone geometry is on the park's official Florida Bay boating map; do not draw pole/troll polygons from the text. Fees page dated for 2024 pricing; confirm current pricing on recreation.gov.

Source: National Park Service, Everglades National ParkLast verified 2026-10-23

Your Florida saltwater licence covers Florida Bay inside the park, which adds its own rules: Florida size and bag limits apply with a park cap of 20 fish per person and 10 of one species; no lobster or conch; bait only by hook and line, a 3-ft dip net or a cast net no bigger than 20 ft; Joe Bay and Snag Bay are catch-and-release only.

Licence

Florida saltwater fishing licence (children under 16 exempt).

• Cast nets over 20 ft in diameter prohibited; dip nets no wider than 3 ft; nets may not be dragged, trawled or held suspended; no digging for bait.
• Taking lobster or queen conch is prohibited anywhere in the park.
• Joe Bay, Snag Bay and their creeks: catch-and-release finfish only.
• Spearing and netting follow state law, so the Monroe County spearfishing ban applies.

The park notes a mercury consumption advisory for spotted seatrout, gafftopsail catfish, bluefish, crevalle jack and ladyfish from northern Florida Bay.

Source: National Park Service, Everglades National ParkLast verified 2026-10-23