Porcupinefishin Florida (Atlantic)
Diodon hystrix
Also called Spiny puffer.
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for porcupinefish in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Marine life (aquarium) species: must be landed and kept alive.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Marine life aggregate.
FWC 2026· checked Open
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PorcupinefishThis page. | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Open year-round |
| Striped burrfishShort fixed spines and stripes, no fin spots.Tell them apart | Not 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
Balloon with long spines that lie flat until it inflates; dark spots on body AND fins; huge doll eyes. More on the porcupinefish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Porcupinefish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a porcupinefish in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appPorcupinefish in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for porcupinefish in Florida (Atlantic)?
No size limit.
How many porcupinefish can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: Marine life aggregate.
When is porcupinefish season in Florida (Atlantic)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) porcupinefish 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.