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Rules by state · Florida (Atlantic)

Ballyhooin Florida (Atlantic)

Hemiramphus brasiliensis

Also called 'Hoo, Balao.

Recreational rule, FWC 2026, checked Sep 20, 2026. The official rulebook is the final word.

Studio photograph of a Ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis), side view, on a white background

The rule in Florida (Atlantic)

Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for ballyhoo in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.

SizeNo size limit
BagNo bag limit for bait
SeasonOpen year-round

FWC 2026· checked · likelyOpen

Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Atlantic) rules

Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.

FishSizeBagSeason
BallyhooThis page.No size limitNo bag limit for baitOpen year-round
Atlantic needlefishBoth jaws long and toothy.Tell them apartNot listed by Florida (Atlantic): the default applies (No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day, whichever is greater)

How to tell it

Only the LOWER jaw stretches into a beak, tipped orange-red — the trolling bait. More on the ballyhoo page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Ballyhoo in other states

In the app

Point the camera at a ballyhoo in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.

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Ballyhoo in Florida (Atlantic): the questions

What is the size limit for ballyhoo in Florida (Atlantic)?

No size limit.

How many ballyhoo can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?

No bag limit for bait.

When is ballyhoo season in Florida (Atlantic)?

Open year-round.

How current is this Florida (Atlantic) ballyhoo rule?

Source: FWC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.