Ocean Surgeonfish
Acanthurus tractus
Also called Surgeonfish.
How to tell it
Gray-blue to brown oval with a blue-edged tail and a pale band at the tail base; sharp spine on the caudal peduncle.
Often mistaken for
Two fish that get called ocean surgeonfish, and what gives each one away.
- Doctorfish: 10–12 faint vertical bars. Tell them apart
- Blue tang: Solid blue. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | 9" FL max (tangs and surgeonfish) | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 9" FL max (tangs and surgeonfish) | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · 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).
On the table
Rarely eaten — ciguatera risk.
In the app
Point the camera at an ocean surgeonfish 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 ocean surgeonfish
What is the size limit for ocean surgeonfish?
It depends on the state. Florida (Atlantic): 9" FL max (tangs and surgeonfish); Florida (Gulf): 9" FL max (tangs and surgeonfish).
How many ocean surgeonfish can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
How do you tell ocean surgeonfish from doctorfish?
Ocean Surgeonfish: Gray-blue to brown oval with a blue-edged tail and a pale band at the tail base; sharp spine on the caudal peduncle. Doctorfish: 10–12 faint vertical bars.