Scaled sardinein Florida (Atlantic)
Harengula jaguana
Also called Whitebait, Pilchard.
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for scaled sardine in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
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.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaled sardineThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit for bait | Open year-round |
| Spanish sardineSlimmer, no spot.Tell them apart | No size limit | No bag limit for bait | Open year-round |
| Atlantic thread herringTrailing dorsal thread.Tell them apart | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day (whichever is more) | Open year-round |
How to tell it
Bright bait sardine with a faint shoulder spot and no trailing threads; the castnet standard. More on the scaled sardine page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Scaled sardine in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a scaled sardine in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appScaled sardine in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for scaled sardine in Florida (Atlantic)?
No size limit.
How many scaled sardine can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
No bag limit for bait.
When is scaled sardine season in Florida (Atlantic)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) scaled sardine 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.