Spanish hogfishin Florida (Atlantic)
Bodianus rufus
Also called Spanish hog.
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for Spanish hogfish in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Marine Life rule: hand-held nets, drop nets, barrier nets, and slurp guns only; 2-day possession limit of 40 (10 per species).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish hogfishThis page. | 2–8" slot (Spanish hogfish) | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
| HogfishThe big-snouted food fish, no purple saddle.Tell them apart | 16 in fork length min | 1 per person | Open May 1-Oct 31 |
How to tell it
Purple-blue upper front half, yellow below and behind; pointed snout; a reef wrasse, not the hogfish. More on the Spanish hogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spanish hogfish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a Spanish hogfish in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSpanish hogfish in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for Spanish hogfish in Florida (Atlantic)?
2–8" slot (Spanish hogfish).
How many Spanish hogfish can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
When is Spanish hogfish season in Florida (Atlantic)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) Spanish hogfish 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.