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Rules by state · Florida (Atlantic)

Sheepsheadin Florida (Atlantic)

Archosargus probatocephalus

Also called Convict fish.

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

Studio photograph of a Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus), side view, on a white background

The rule in Florida (Atlantic)

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

Size12 in TL min
Bag8 per person
SeasonOpen year-round

50-fish vessel limit per trip during March and April.

Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.

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.

FishSizeBagSeason
SheepsheadThis page.12 in TL min8 per personOpen year-round
Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels.Tell them apart14-24 in slot5 per person (one may be over 24 in)Open year-round
Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth.Tell them apartNo size limit10 per person per day within 20-fish snapper-grouper aggregateOpen year-round

Florida (Atlantic) state record

15.13 lb, Homosassa, 1981. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23

How to tell it

Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Sheepshead in other states

Florida (Gulf)North CarolinaEvery state

In the app

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Sheepshead in Florida (Atlantic): the questions

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

12 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.

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

8 per person.

When is sheepshead season in Florida (Atlantic)?

Open year-round.

What is the Florida (Atlantic) record sheepshead?

15.13 lb, Homosassa (1981).

How current is this Florida (Atlantic) sheepshead 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.