Blue tilapiain Florida (Gulf)
Oreochromis aureus
Also called Tilapia.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for blue tilapia in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Freshwater species — FWC freshwater rules apply (a saltwater license doesn't cover it). No bag or size limit is listed for nonnative fish; check FWC.
FWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations)· 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue tilapiaThis page. | No size limit | Nonnative — no bag limit listed | Year-round |
| Mayan cichlidBarred with a tail spot.Tell them apart | No size limit | Nonnative — no bag limit listed | Year-round |
How to tell it
Deep-bodied, blue-gray with a rounded tail and a pinkish-red tail edge on breeding fish; freshwater and brackish lakes. More on the blue tilapia page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blue tilapia in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blue tilapia in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlue tilapia in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for blue tilapia in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many blue tilapia can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
Nonnative — no bag limit listed.
When is blue tilapia season in Florida (Gulf)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) blue tilapia rule?
Source: FWC freshwater 2026 (eRegulations), 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.