Florida Keys Jewfish (Goliath Grouper)
Florida is the FIshing Capital of the World. Many people come down to fish each year to fish on charter boats, but others may rent boats, take out their own boats, or fish from a pier or from shore. Below is a link to a chart of recreational saltwater fishing regulations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Please keep in mind that this is purely a guide, and rules do tend to change so if you have any questions make sure to contact the FWC directly.
2012 Florida saltwater regulations chart
Fish handling rules in a nutshell:
- if a fish is not allowed to be harvested it must immediately be returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed.
- if a fish is allowed but has a size limit it is okay to temporarily posses it in order to measure it; if it is undersized, see rule #1.
- it is okay to take a picture of a fish that is not allowed to be harvested while it is in the process of being released.
- it is illegal to hold or tow a fish that is not allowed to be harvested in order to weigh or measure it for a tournament or record.
- use common sense when releasing fish; if it is too dangerous to remove a hook, cut the line.
- Everyone fishing for reef fish in the Gulf must possess and use non-stainless steel circle hooks when natural baits are used. It is likely that this same rule will shortly go into effect in the Atlantic as well.
- Everyone fishing for reef fish in the Gulf and the Atlantic must possess and use dehooking tools to remove hooks embedded in reef fish.
- Everyone fishing for reef fish in the Gulf must possess and use venting tools to deflate the swim bladders to release the fish with minimal damage.
For more information about things to do and see in our island city, go to our Key West Web Site. You can also visit our Key West Events Calendar to see upcoming special events.
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