Ballyhooin Florida (Gulf)
Hemiramphus brasiliensis
Also called 'Hoo, Balao.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for ballyhoo in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
SizeNo size limit
BagNo bag limit for bait
SeasonOpen year-round
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BallyhooThis page. | No size limit | No bag limit for bait | Open year-round |
| Atlantic needlefishBoth jaws long and toothy.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
Only the LOWER jaw stretches into a beak, tipped orange-red — the trolling bait. More on the ballyhoo page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Ballyhoo in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a ballyhoo in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBallyhoo in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for ballyhoo in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many ballyhoo can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
No bag limit for bait.
When is ballyhoo season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) ballyhoo 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.