Florida Mullet & Gamefish Regulations
A plain-English overview of FWC mullet rules and the catch-and-release ethics that keep the run healthy. Always confirm current limits before you fish.
5 min read · Updated September 1, 2026
Florida's mullet run is a genuine conservation success story — the population rebounded strongly after the state's ban on entangling gill nets. Keeping it that way means knowing the rules. This is a general overview, not legal advice: regulations change, and zones differ. Always verify current limits with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) before you fish.
Harvesting mullet
- Striped mullet are managed by the FWC as a restricted species.
- Recreational bag limit is commonly 50 fish per person per day in Atlantic and Gulf state waters, with no minimum size — but this varies by zone and season.
- Legal recreational gear includes cast nets and beach seines; gill and other entangling nets are prohibited.
- Some zones (e.g. parts of Tampa Bay and the Manatee River) carry much tighter, seasonal vessel limits.
The predators you'll actually target
Most anglers fishing the run are after the gamefish chasing the bait, and those have their own strict rules. Snook and tarpon in particular are tightly regulated and often catch-and-release only, requiring a permit for tarpon over a certain size. Redfish and trout have their own slot and bag limits that vary by management region.
- Snook — seasonal, slot limit, requires a snook permit; often closed in fall.
- Tarpon — catch-and-release; a tag is required to possess one for a record.
- Redfish & trout — region-specific slot and bag limits.
Handle big fish for the future
During a hot bite it's easy to over-handle fish. Keep tarpon and snook in the water, use single barbless hooks where practical, revive fish fully before release, and never drag a big fish up dry sand for a photo. The run is only as good next year as the spawning stock you release this year.