Squirrelfish
Holocentrus adscensionis
How to tell it
Big black night eyes and red-and-white striped body bristling with sharp spines; ledges after dark.
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 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).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 lb 5.4 oz | 2024 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 1 lb 3 oz | 2012 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 1.56 lb | 2016 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Edible but spiny — mostly released.
In the app
Point the camera at a squirrelfish 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 squirrelfish
How many squirrelfish 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.
What is the record squirrelfish?
1.56 lb in Texas (2016), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.