Gulf Toadfish
Opsanus beta
Also called Mudfish.
How to tell it
Camouflage-blotched, frog-mouthed bottom-sitter — the Gulf-side twin of the oyster toadfish.
- Not a oyster toadfish? That one the Atlantic-side twin — range is the tell. (Oyster Toadfish)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 5 per day, landed alive (marine-life rules) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 lb 8 oz | 2005 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 2 lb 3.2 oz | 2013 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 3 lb | 1989 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Actually sweet — but nobody keeps them.
In the app
Point the camera at a gulf toadfish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about gulf toadfish
How many gulf toadfish can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 5 per day, landed alive (marine-life rules).
How do you tell gulf toadfish from oyster toadfish?
Gulf Toadfish has this: Camouflage-blotched, frog-mouthed bottom-sitter — the Gulf-side twin of the oyster toadfish.. Oyster Toadfish the Atlantic-side twin — range is the tell.
What is the record gulf toadfish?
3 lb in Texas (1989), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.