Porkfish
Anisotremus virginicus
How to tell it
Two bold black bars — one through the eye, one behind the head — over gold-and-blue stripes.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called porkfish, and what gives it away.
- Black margate: No bars; black smudge and jet fins. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic) | 1.5 in min | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 1.5 in min | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Open 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
Good panfish.
In the app
Point the camera at a porkfish 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 porkfish
What is the size limit for porkfish?
It depends on the state. Florida (Atlantic): 1.5 in min; Florida (Gulf): 1.5 in min.
How many porkfish 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 porkfish from black margate?
Porkfish: Two bold black bars — one through the eye, one behind the head — over gold-and-blue stripes. Black margate: no bars; black smudge and jet fins.