Spotted goatfishin Florida (Atlantic)
Pseudupeneus maculatus
Also called Goatfish.
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for spotted goatfish 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
How to tell it
Two chin barbels, pale body with three dark blotches along the side that fade and flare; sits on the bottom. More on the spotted goatfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spotted goatfish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a spotted goatfish in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSpotted goatfish in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for spotted goatfish in Florida (Atlantic)?
No size limit.
How many spotted goatfish can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
When is spotted goatfish season in Florida (Atlantic)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) spotted goatfish 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.