What Size Redfish Can You Keep in Florida? Florida Size and Bag Limits
Meta description: Florida redfish must generally measure 18 to 27 inches in total length, with a one-fish daily limit. Learn how to measure redfish, where harvest is closed, and what rules to check before fishing.
In most Florida waters, a recreational angler may keep one redfish per day if the fish measures at least 18 inches and no more than 27 inches in total length. The size limit is often called a slot limit: fish shorter or longer than the legal range must be released. Location matters, however. Harvest is prohibited in the Indian River Lagoon region, and state rules do not authorize keeping redfish caught in federal waters. Checking the applicable rules before a trip helps anglers avoid a costly mistake.
Florida’s Redfish Size Limit
Florida’s standard recreational redfish limit is an 18-to-27-inch slot. A redfish measuring exactly 18 inches or exactly 27 inches is within the slot; one measuring below 18 inches or above 27 inches is not. The limit applies to red drum, commonly called redfish, and is intended to protect smaller fish and larger breeding-size fish.
Florida’s statewide rules generally allow one redfish per person per day. The daily bag limit is not a boat limit: each angler’s legal catch is counted separately, and a person cannot keep more than one redfish in a day just because other anglers on the vessel have unused limits. Local closures and special rules may be stricter than the statewide limit.
Regulations can change, and fishing areas may have boundaries that are not obvious from shore. Before keeping a fish, anglers should check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) current red drum regulations and its regional information. An older printed guide, an online forum, or a rule remembered from a previous season may not reflect the current requirements.
How to Measure a Redfish Correctly
Florida’s slot limit uses total length, not fork length. Total length is measured in a straight line from the fish’s snout to the farthest tip of its tail, with the mouth closed and the tail pinched together. Lay the fish flat against a measuring device and make sure it is not curved. Measuring along the fish’s body can produce a longer, inaccurate reading.
- Place the redfish on a flat measuring board, with its mouth closed.
- Align the tip of the snout with the board’s zero mark.
- Bring the tail lobes together, or pinch the tail, and read the measurement at the farthest tail tip.
- Compare the result with the legal range: 18 through 27 inches, inclusive.
A flexible tape held loosely against the fish can be difficult to read accurately. A rigid measuring board with clear inch marks is more reliable, particularly when a fish is close to either boundary. When a measurement is uncertain, the safest choice is to release the fish rather than risk keeping one outside the slot.
Anglers should measure the fish promptly and handle it carefully. Keeping the fish in the water or returning it quickly reduces stress. Wet hands, gentle handling, and avoiding contact with the gills can also help a released redfish survive. A fish that must be released should not be held out of the water for an extended photo session.
Daily Bag Limit and Possession
The standard recreational bag limit is one redfish per person per day, provided the fish meets the size limit and was caught in an area where harvest is allowed. A daily limit is the maximum an angler may retain during the stated period; it is not a target or an entitlement to keep a fish from a closed area.
Florida’s general saltwater rules also restrict how fish may be accumulated and transported. Anglers should not assume that a fish caught on one day can be carried over to increase a later day’s limit, or that a vessel may combine individual limits in any way it chooses. When several people are fishing together, each person should be able to identify their own catch and comply with the applicable possession rules.
Commercial fishing, tournament activities, and special permits can involve requirements that differ from ordinary recreational fishing. The standard one-fish recreational rule should not be treated as a complete guide to commercial harvest or event-specific conditions. Anglers participating in an organized event should confirm the event rules and current FWC requirements before fishing.
Where Florida Redfish Harvest Is Prohibited
A statewide size and bag limit does not mean redfish may be harvested everywhere. Redfish harvest is prohibited in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon region under current FWC rules. The closure covers waters in the Indian River Lagoon system, including the Banana River and Mosquito Lagoon. The area is important redfish habitat, and the closure is intended to support recovery and conservation.
Because the lagoon system spans a long stretch of Florida’s east coast and includes connected waters, anglers should consult the FWC’s current maps and boundary descriptions rather than rely on a city name or a general sense of where the lagoon begins and ends. A fish caught within the closure must be released, even if it falls within the 18-to-27-inch slot and the angler has not kept another redfish.
Harvest is also prohibited in federal waters. Florida’s state-water boundaries extend generally three nautical miles offshore on the Atlantic coast and nine nautical miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Beyond state waters, federal rules prohibit keeping red drum. Anglers fishing offshore should know which jurisdiction they are in; a Florida recreational license and state slot limit do not make redfish harvest legal in federal waters.
These restrictions illustrate why the answer to “What size redfish can you keep in Florida?” depends on more than a ruler. The fish must be within the legal slot, the angler must remain within the individual bag limit, and the location must be open to harvest.
Redfish Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Standard Florida recreational requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 18 inches total length |
| Maximum size | 27 inches total length |
| Daily bag limit | One redfish per person |
| Measurement method | Snout to farthest tail tip, with the mouth closed and tail pinched |
| Indian River Lagoon region | Harvest prohibited |
| Federal waters | Redfish harvest prohibited |
This summary describes the general recreational rules, not every restriction that could apply to a specific location or activity. The FWC’s online regulations and current notices are the best source for confirming exact boundaries and any rule changes.
Fishing License and Other Requirements
Most people fishing in Florida’s saltwater need a valid recreational saltwater fishing license unless they qualify for an exemption. Requirements can depend on factors such as age, residency, fishing method, and whether the angler is covered by a qualifying license held by a charter operator or another responsible party. A person should not assume that fishing from a pier, shore, or private boat automatically makes a license unnecessary.
Florida also has free or no-cost license options for certain situations, but an angler may still need to obtain the required license or registration before fishing. The FWC’s saltwater fishing license information explains license types and exemptions. Checking this information alongside the redfish regulations helps ensure that both the fish and the fishing activity are legal.
Other general fishing rules may apply, including rules on gear, protected species, and the handling or transport of fish. If a redfish is caught accidentally in a closed area or outside the legal size range, it must be released. Anglers should avoid delaying release to take measurements repeatedly or to seek an opinion from people nearby.
Why Florida Uses a Slot Limit
A slot limit protects fish at both ends of the size range. Smaller redfish can grow and contribute to the population before they become eligible for harvest. Larger fish are often valuable breeders, and preserving them can support future generations. The one-fish daily limit further limits recreational harvest while allowing a modest opportunity to keep a legal fish in areas where harvest is open.
Redfish are a prominent inshore species found in bays, estuaries, tidal creeks, and nearshore coastal waters. Their habitat and local population conditions differ around the state. Regional restrictions allow fisheries managers to respond to specific conservation needs rather than applying identical harvest access in every waterway.
These measures are part of fisheries management, not a guarantee that every local population is at the same level of abundance. Anglers can help by following closures, releasing fish carefully, and reporting concerns through appropriate state channels. Voluntary restraint—such as releasing a legal fish—can also reduce harvest pressure, although it does not replace compliance with the rules.
Common Redfish Regulation Mistakes
- Using the wrong measurement: Fork length or a measurement taken around the body is not the same as total length. Measure from the snout to the farthest tail tip.
- Keeping a fish just outside the slot: A redfish shorter than 18 inches or longer than 27 inches must be released, even if it is only a fraction of an inch outside the range.
- Treating the limit as a boat allowance: The standard daily limit is one fish per person, not one fish per vessel to divide as desired.
- Overlooking a local closure: A fish within the legal size range still cannot be kept in a closed area, including the Indian River Lagoon region.
- Assuming state rules apply offshore: Redfish harvest is prohibited in federal waters, so anglers need to know where state waters end.
- Relying on outdated information: Regulations and boundaries can change. Current FWC resources should be checked before each trip.
How to Check the Rules Before a Trip
Start with the FWC red drum regulation page and identify the water body where fishing will take place. Check whether the location falls within the Indian River Lagoon closure or another special-management area. For an offshore trip, determine whether the planned fishing grounds are inside Florida state waters or in federal waters.
Next, confirm the current size, bag, and license requirements. If a boundary or measurement is unclear, consult the official FWC map or contact the agency before harvesting a fish. It is practical to carry a measuring board and keep the current regulation information accessible on a phone, while remembering that a saved screenshot may become outdated.
The general rule is straightforward: keep only a redfish measuring 18 to 27 inches total length, and no more than one per person per day—but only where harvest is open. The Indian River Lagoon region and federal waters are important exceptions. Confirming the location and current FWC rules is essential before putting a redfish in the cooler.
Official Florida Resources
For the most current requirements, consult the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s red drum regulations, its saltwater license guidance, and official maps or notices for regional closures. Regulations should be verified close to the date of fishing because emergency or permanent rule changes may affect what can be harvested.