2026 regulation year
Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River) 2026 — Florida Fishing Regulations
Florida statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River) carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Florida's 2026 fishing rules — covering Redfish (red drum), Spotted seatrout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Per-species rules on Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River)
Redfish (red drum) regulations →
Catch-and-release only — no harvest. Runs from Lytle Ave / South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach south to the Martin–Palm Beach county line
Spotted seatrout regulations →
2 / day, 15–19 in slot, no over-slot fish; closed Nov 1 – Dec 31
Official source
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission publishes the authoritative 2026 Florida fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Florida fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.
Other special-regulation waters in Florida
- Apalachicola Bay (Panhandle region)
- Apalachicola River
- Banana River (Merritt Island NWR)
- Big Bend (Steinhatchee, Crystal River, Homosassa)
- Big Pine Key and Lower Keys
- Biscayne National Park (Atlantic)
- Boca Grande Pass
- Bridges, jetties, oyster bars and dock pilings statewide
- Charlotte Harbor & Southwest regions
- Chipola River
- Crystal River / Kings Bay
- Everglades National Park (10,000 Islands / Florida Bay)
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River)?
- Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River) carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Florida's statewide 2026 rules, covering Redfish (red drum) and Spotted seatrout. One of them reads: "Catch-and-release only — no harvest. Runs from Lytle Ave / South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach south to the Martin–Palm Beach county line." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River)?
- Yes. Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River) is in Florida, so a valid Florida fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Indian River Lagoon region; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Florida rules.
- Do Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River)'s special rules replace Florida's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Florida's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Indian River Lagoon region by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Indian River Lagoon region?
- Redfish (red drum) and Spotted seatrout have a water-body-specific rule on Indian River Lagoon region (incl. Mosquito Lagoon & Banana River), each linking to its full Florida regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Florida limits.