Northern Puffer
Sphoeroides maculatus
How to tell it
Inflates; olive back, tiny mouth.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb | Banned in Volusia–Martin counties (toxin)FWC, Fla. Admin. Code r. 68B-3.007 · checked | Check |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb | Banned in Volusia–Martin counties (toxin)FWC, Fla. Admin. Code r. 68B-3.007 · checked | Check |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 lb 5 oz | 2020 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
The 'sea squab' — edible unlike southern puffers, but only if you're CERTAIN of the species; when in doubt, no.
In the app
Point the camera at a northern puffer 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 northern puffer
How many northern puffer can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb; Florida (Gulf): Banned in 5 east-coast counties · elsewhere 2 fish or 100 lb.
What is the record northern puffer?
1 lb 5 oz in New York (2020). Other states’ records are in the table.