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Auto-synced from myfwc.com
Last updated October 22, 2026 · Refreshed daily.
Florida is the saltwater tournament capital of North America. It's also one of the most heavily regulated fisheries in the country. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sets slot limits, seasons, and gear restrictions that change year to year — and tournament rules that ignore them put both anglers and organizers in legal jeopardy.
The regulations below are auto-synced daily from myfwc.com. FWC issues changes mid-season more than people realize — but as long as the badge above shows a fresh date, you're looking at current rules. Always do a final spot-check the week before your tournament.
FWC Management Regions
Every Florida inshore reg is region-specific. The state divides the coast into:
Panhandle
AL line east to Wakulla/Jefferson
Big Bend
Wakulla/Jefferson south to Pasco/Hernando
Tampa Bay
Pasco/Hernando south to Manatee/Sarasota
Sarasota Bay
Manatee/Sarasota south to Venice Inlet
Charlotte Harbor
Venice Inlet south to Lee/Collier
Southwest
Lee/Collier south through Everglades / FL Bay
Southeast
Monroe County north to Martin/St. Lucie
Indian River Lagoon
Martin/St. Lucie north to Volusia/Brevard — special rules
Northeast
Volusia/Brevard north to GA line
Your tournament boundary determines which regional regs apply. If your tournament crosses regions, the stricter rule applies to anglers fishing in that area.
Florida Inshore Slam Species
The four slam species — Snook, Redfish, Spotted Sea Trout, and Tarpon — drive most of Florida's inshore tournament scene. Each has its own slot rules, regional variation, and closed seasons. Tap a card for the current FWC values.
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Snook
Centropomus undecimalisSlot / Size
28–33 in most regions; 28–32 in SE, Indian River Lagoon, and Northeast
Daily Bag
One fish per person per day
Permits
Snook permit and recreational fishing license
Slot Detail by Region
| Panhandle | 28"–33" |
| Big Bend | 28"–33" |
| Tampa Bay | 28"–33" |
| Sarasota Bay | 28"–33" |
| Charlotte Harbor | 28"–33" |
| Southwest | 28"–33" |
| Southeast | 28"–32" |
| Indian River Lagoon | 28"–32" |
| Northeast | 28"–32" |
Seasons
| Panhandle | ClosedDecember 1 – end of February, and May 1 – August 31 |
| Big Bend | ClosedDecember 1 – end of February, and May 1 – August 31 |
| Tampa Bay | ClosedDecember 1 – end of February, and May 1 – August 31 |
| Sarasota Bay | ClosedDecember 1 – end of February, and May 1 – August 31 |
| Charlotte Harbor | ClosedDecember 1 – end of February, and May 1 – September 30 |
| Southwest | ClosedDecember 1 – end of February, and May 1 – September 30 |
| Southeast | ClosedDecember 15 – January 31, and June 1 – August 31 |
| Indian River Lagoon | ClosedDecember 15 – January 31, and June 1 – August 31 |
| Northeast | ClosedDecember 15 – January 31, and June 1 – August 31 |
Notes for Tournament Organizers
- ›No commercial harvest or sale
- ›Must remain whole until landed ashore
- ›Hook and line only
- ›Captain and crew may not retain bag limit on for‑hire trips
Source: myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/ · Fetched Oct 22, 2026
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Redfish
Sciaenops ocellatusSlot / Size
18-27 inch total length slot limit
Daily Bag
1 fish per person per day
Vessel Limit
4 fish vessel limit in Panhandle and Big Bend; 2 fish vessel limit in other regions
Slot Detail by Region
| Panhandle | 18"–27" |
| Big Bend | 18"–27" |
| Tampa Bay | 18"–27" |
| Sarasota Bay | 18"–27" |
| Charlotte Harbor | 18"–27" |
| Southwest | 18"–27" |
| Southeast | 18"–27" |
| Northeast | 18"–27" |
| Indian River Lagoon | Catch-and-release only |
Seasons
| Panhandle | OpenYear-round |
| Big Bend | OpenYear-round |
| Tampa Bay | OpenYear-round |
| Sarasota Bay | OpenYear-round |
| Charlotte Harbor | OpenYear-round |
| Southwest | OpenYear-round |
| Southeast | OpenYear-round |
| Northeast | OpenYear-round |
| Indian River Lagoon | OpenYear-round |
Notes for Tournament Organizers
- ›Catch-and-release only in Indian River Lagoon
- ›Bag limit 1 fish per person per day
- ›Slot 18-27 inches total length
- ›Vessel limit varies by region
Source: myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/ · Fetched Oct 22, 2026
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Spotted Sea Trout
Cynoscion nebulosusSlot / Size
15–19 inches total length (one >19" allowed per vessel/person)
Daily Bag
3 fish per person per day (5 in Big Bend, 2 in Indian River Lagoon)
Slot Detail by Region
| Panhandle | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit |
| Big Bend | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit |
| Tampa Bay | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit |
| Sarasota Bay | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit |
| Charlotte Harbor | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit |
| Southwest | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit |
| Southeast | 15"–19"One >19" allowed per vessel/person, counted in bag limit; special regulations in Biscayne National Park |
| Indian River Lagoon | 15"–19"No fish >19" allowed |
| Northeast | 15"–19"No fish >19" allowed |
Seasons
| Panhandle | ClosedFeb OpenMar 1 – Jan 31 |
| Big Bend | Openyear-round |
| Tampa Bay | Openyear-round |
| Sarasota Bay | Openyear-round |
| Charlotte Harbor | Openyear-round |
| Southwest | Openyear-round |
| Southeast | Openyear-round |
| Indian River Lagoon | ClosedNov 1 – Dec 31 OpenJan 1 – Oct 31 |
| Northeast | Openyear-round |
Notes for Tournament Organizers
- ›Slot limit 15–19 inches
- ›One >19 inch fish allowed per vessel/person
- ›Bag limits vary by region
- ›Closed season Feb in Panhandle
- ›Closed Nov‑Dec in Indian River Lagoon
- ›Special regulations in Biscayne National Park (Southeast)
Source: myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ · Fetched Oct 22, 2026
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Tarpon
Megalops atlanticusSlot / Size
No size limit; tarpon >40 in must be released
Daily Bag
Catch-and-release only
Vessel Limit
One fish per vessel, transport, and shipment
Permits
One tarpon tag per person per year for state or world record pursuit
Slot Detail by Region
| Statewide | Tarpon >40 in must remain in water unless pursuing record |
Seasons
| Statewide | OpenYear-round |
Notes for Tournament Organizers
- ›Hook and line only; snagging, spearing, multiple hooks prohibited
- ›Gear with weight hanging below hook prohibited in Boca Grande Pass
- ›April‑June: max three lines per vessel, no breakaway gear
- ›Use barbless, non‑stainless, non‑offset circle hooks 6/0‑10/0
Source: myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/tarpon/ · Fetched Oct 22, 2026
Other Common Tournament Species
Black Drum & Sheepshead
Often used as fifth and sixth slam species. Strong bycatch — good "easy points" for junior divisions. Slot/bag limits apply; check FWC.
Snapper (Mangrove, Lane, Yellowtail, Red)
Reef Slam species; deeper water. Red Snapper has heavily restricted seasons — federal regs apply beyond state waters (3 NM Atlantic, 9 NM Gulf).
Cobia, Mahi, Kingfish
Nearshore/offshore weigh-in fish. Cobia is the unicorn — many tournaments add a Cobia side award because they're hard to predict.
Tournament Rule Clauses
Include these explicit clauses in your written rules:
FWC regulation compliance
All catches must comply with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations in effect on the tournament date, including any in-season amendments. Out-of-slot, undersized, out-of-season, or otherwise prohibited fish do not count and may not be submitted for scoring.
License + permit requirement
All anglers must possess a valid Florida saltwater fishing license. Snook anglers must possess a current Snook Permit. Tarpon anglers pursuing a record must possess a valid Tarpon Tag prior to fishing.
Catch-and-release protocol
Fish that cannot be legally retained (out of slot, out of season, in C&R-only zones such as the Indian River Lagoon, or protected species) must be photographed at the boat and released immediately. Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in the water for the photo per FWC rule.
Region-specific notes
If your tournament crosses FWC management zones, note explicitly which apply where. The Indian River Lagoon C&R-only zone for Redfish is the most common gotcha.
Boundary
Provide a map of in-bounds waters, ideally a downloadable KML file. Many tournaments use a specific bay (Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Mosquito Lagoon) — state named landmarks for the boundary.
Scheduling Considerations
- Hurricane season (June–November). Have a postponement policy in writing — most tournaments use a "decision by 6 PM the night before" trigger tied to NWS small-craft advisories.
- Closures are coast-specific. Check the species cards above before finalizing a date — those windows are pulled live from FWC.
- Red tide events can shut down fishing on the southwest Gulf coast. Watch FWC daily reports starting 2 weeks out.
- Tarpon "season" peaks May–July on the Gulf coast. Schedule Tarpon-focused tournaments for this window.
Top Tournament Hotspots
Tampa Bay
Biggest inshore tournament scene in the state. Snook, Reds, Trout, Tarpon all viable.
Charlotte Harbor / Boca Grande
Tarpon mecca in spring/summer. Boca Grande Pass has special April–June restrictions.
Mosquito Lagoon (IRL system)
C&R-only Redfish, restricted Trout. Gin-clear flats — sight-casting tournaments dominate.
Florida Keys
Bonefish, permit, tarpon — the famed flats slam / backcountry slam.
Pensacola / Destin
Offshore kingfish, cobia, reef species. Big weigh-in events.
Indian River Lagoon
Catch-and-release only for Reds statewide-special. Photo tournaments only.
Configuring a Florida Inshore Tournament on FishingSpree
For a typical Florida Inshore Slam division:
- Scoring: Points by length, best 1 per species, require slam (all four)
- Photo-only submission with measuring board ID + GPS verification
- Region tagging: If you operate in the Indian River Lagoon, enable the C&R-only Redfish flag on the division
- Side awards: Biggest Snook, Biggest Tarpon, Junior Big Fish
See our slam tournaments guide for format setup and photo vs weigh-in guide for submission verification.
Authoritative Sources
Bookmark these — they update as regs change:
Run your next tournament on FishingSpree
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