American eelin Florida (Gulf)
Anguilla rostrata
Also called Yellow eel, Silver eel.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for American eel in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Limit set under FWC freshwater/ASMFC rules; FWC's saltwater unregulated page also lists eels — rules conflict, using the stricter.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
FWC 2026· checked · likelyOpen
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| American eelThis page. | 9 in TL min | 25 per day | Open year-round |
| Conger eelGray, with the upper jaw overhanging instead.Tell them apart | Not listed by Florida (Gulf): the default applies (No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day, whichever is greater) | ||
| Atlantic cutlassfishRibbon-flat and fanged, no tail fin at all.Tell them apart | Not listed by Florida (Gulf): the default applies (No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day, whichever is greater) | ||
How to tell it
A true eel — one continuous fin running from mid-back around the tail; lower jaw juts past the upper. More on the American eel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
American eel in other states
In the app
Point the camera at an American eel in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appAmerican eel in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for American eel in Florida (Gulf)?
9 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many American eel can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
25 per day.
When is American eel season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) American eel 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.