American shadin Florida (Gulf)
Alosa sapidissima
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for American shad in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
FWC approved a catch-and-release-only rule Aug 2026; treated as no-harvest pending confirmation of the effective date.
FWC 2026· checked · likelyPut it back
How to tell it
Deeper body, jaws even; the classic spring run. More on the American shad page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
American shad in other states
In the app
Point the camera at an American shad in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appAmerican shad in Florida (Gulf): the questions
Can you keep American shad in Florida (Gulf)?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Gulf). Release it in the water where you can. FWC approved a catch-and-release-only rule Aug 2026; treated as no-harvest pending confirmation of the effective date.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) American shad 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.