2026 regulation year
Florida Redfish (red drum) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Last updated
Redfish are Florida's most heavily-managed inshore species. Since the 2022 overhaul, FWC manages red drum in nine coastal regions, all sharing an 18–27 in slot and a one-fish-per-person daily bag — except the Indian River Lagoon region (which includes Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River), where redfish are catch-and-release only. The other variable is the per-vessel cap: four fish in the Panhandle, Big Bend and Northeast regions, two fish in the rest. Always check the region map before retaining.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round across all nine regions; the Indian River Lagoon region is catch-and-release only.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 1 / day per person (all harvest regions); 0 in the Indian River Lagoon region (catch-and-release)
- Possession
- No separate possession limit. Per-vessel cap: 4 fish (Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast) or 2 fish (Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast). A 4-fish-per-person limit applies when transporting on land.
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 18–27 in slot
- Slot
- 18–27 in
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line only — no snagging, no spearing
- Circle hooks required when fishing with natural bait in some regions
- No multi-hook bait rigs targeting redfish
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Florida waters:
Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River)
Catch-and-release only — no harvest. Runs from Lytle Ave / South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach south to the Martin–Palm Beach county line
Panhandle / Big Bend / Northeast regions
1 / day per person, 18–27 in slot, up to 4 fish per vessel
Tampa Bay / Sarasota Bay / Charlotte Harbor / Southwest / Southeast regions
1 / day per person, 18–27 in slot, up to 2 fish per vessel
Apalachicola Bay (Panhandle region)
1 / day per person, 18–27 in slot, 4 fish per vessel
Official source
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission publishes the authoritative 2026 Floridafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The redfish (red drum) rules on this page are sourced from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's official redfish (red drum) regulation page.
Visit official Florida fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Redfish (red drum) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's emergency-order feed — check it before any Florida trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is redfish (red drum) season in Florida?
- Florida keeps redfish (red drum) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Florida bag limit for redfish (red drum)?
- The Florida daily bag limit for redfish (red drum) is 1 / day per person (all harvest regions); 0 in the Indian River Lagoon region (catch-and-release). The possession limit is No separate possession limit. Per-vessel cap: 4 fish (Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast) or 2 fish (Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast). A 4-fish-per-person limit applies when transporting on land.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size redfish (red drum) can you keep in Florida?
- The Florida size rule for redfish (red drum) is 18–27 in slot. Slot limit: 18–27 in.
- Do you need a license to fish for redfish (red drum) in Florida?
- Yes. Florida requires a valid fishing license to fish for redfish (red drum), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Florida license — compare resident and non-resident Florida fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for redfish (red drum) in Florida?
- Yes. In Florida, redfish (red drum) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line only — no snagging, no spearing; Circle hooks required when fishing with natural bait in some regions; No multi-hook bait rigs targeting redfish.
- Do specific Florida waters have different redfish (red drum) rules?
- Yes. 4 named Florida waters carry rules that override the statewide redfish (red drum) regulation, including Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River), Panhandle / Big Bend / Northeast regions, Tampa Bay / Sarasota Bay / Charlotte Harbor / Southwest / Southeast regions, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.