Banded rudderfishin Florida (Atlantic)
Seriola zonata
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for banded rudderfish in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Lesser amberjack/banded rudderfish aggregate.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
FWC 2026· checked Open
Beyond 3 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 3-mile line, written by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Atlantic) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banded rudderfishThis page. | 14-22 in fork length slot | 5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined) | Open year-round |
| Greater amberjackGrows far larger, stronger eye stripe.Tell them apart | 28 in fork length min | 1 per person | Open Jan-Mar and May-Dec (closed April) |
| Almaco jackDeeper body, tall sickle dorsal.Tell them apart | No size limit | 10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregate | Open year-round |
How to tell it
Small seriola: juveniles banded, adults show a white-edged tail; often mis-called amberjack. More on the banded rudderfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Banded rudderfish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a banded rudderfish in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBanded rudderfish in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for banded rudderfish in Florida (Atlantic)?
14-22 in fork length slot. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many banded rudderfish can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined). It counts toward an aggregate: Lesser amberjack/banded rudderfish aggregate.
When is banded rudderfish season in Florida (Atlantic)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) banded rudderfish 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.