Atlantic thread herringin Florida (Gulf)
Opisthonema oglinum
Also called Threadfin, Greenie.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for Atlantic thread herring in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Unregulated species in Florida — the FWC default limit applies. In practice 100 lb covers any bait-well; there is no special bait exemption.
FWC 2026· checked Open
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic thread herringThis page. | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day (whichever is more) | Open year-round |
| Atlantic menhadenNo thread, spot trail.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) | ||
| Scaled sardineNo thread, slimmer.Tell them apart | No size limit | No bag limit for bait | Open year-round |
How to tell it
Last dorsal ray trails into a long thread; single shoulder spot on a deep herring body. More on the Atlantic thread herring page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic thread herring in other states
In the app
Point the camera at an Atlantic thread herring in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appAtlantic thread herring in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for Atlantic thread herring in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many Atlantic thread herring can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
2 fish or 100 lb per person per day (whichever is more).
When is Atlantic thread herring season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) Atlantic thread herring 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.