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Recreational Hogfish Closes in Atlantic and Florida Keys Nov 1 

Hogfish recreational harvest will close in state and federal waters off the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys starting Nov. 1. This Hogfish closure includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida and up the Atlantic coast. The recreational harvest season of Florida hogfish in state and federal waters of the Atlantic and the Florida Keys is open from May 1 through Oct. 31. 

Recreational harvest remains open in state and federal waters north of Cape Sable in the Gulf. If you plan to fish for hogfish anywhere in Florida state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS. Sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler today and manage your licenses at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. 

For current recreational hogfish regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Hogfish.”

Regulations

Gulf State Waters

Minimum Size Limit: 14″ fork length

Daily Bag Limit: 5 per harvester

Season: Open year-round

 

Atlantic State Waters

(includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable, including the Florida Keys)

Minimum Size Limit: 16″ fork length

Daily Bag Limit: 1 per harvester

Season: Open May 1-Oct. 31

Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.

In the Atlantic reef fish fishery, gear rules require dehooking tools, and as of Jan. 1, 2021, non-stainless steel hooks in all state waters, and non-offset circle hooks N. of 28 ° N. latitude.

 

Other Regulations

Gear Requirements:

  • Legal Gear: spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net

Federal waters:

Gulf federal waters north of Cape Sable: Open year-round, 14-inch minimum size limit, 5-fish/person recreational bag limit. 

Atlantic federal waters: Open May 1-Oct. 31 annually. 16-inch minimum size limit, 1-fish/person recreational bag limit.

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