Bandtail pufferin Florida (Gulf)
Sphoeroides spengleri
Also called Puffer.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for bandtail puffer in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Florida prohibits puffer harvest in certain east-coast counties (FWC's Puffer Fish Prohibition); puffers carry saxitoxin and are not a food fish. Check FWC before keeping one.
FWC 2026· checked · likelyCheck
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandtail pufferThis page. | No size limit | See note | Year-round |
| Checkered pufferNet pattern on the back.Tell them apart | No size limit | See note | Year-round |
How to tell it
Small puffer with a row of dark blotches low on the side and dark bands on the tail. More on the bandtail puffer page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Bandtail puffer in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a bandtail puffer in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBandtail puffer in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for bandtail puffer in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many bandtail puffer can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
See note.
When is bandtail puffer season in Florida (Gulf)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) bandtail puffer 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.