Blueback herringin Florida (Gulf)
Alosa aestivalis
Also called River herring.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for blueback herring in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Hook and line only.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Shad/herring aggregate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blueback herringThis page. | No size limit | 10 per person (shad and blueback herring combined) | Open year-round |
| AlewifeBigger eye, gray-green back, pale gut lining.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) | ||
| Atlantic herringNo shoulder spot.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
The alewife's twin with a blue-black back and smaller eye; told apart for sure by the black gut lining. More on the blueback herring page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blueback herring in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blueback herring in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlueback herring in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for blueback herring in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many blueback herring can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
10 per person (shad and blueback herring combined). It counts toward an aggregate: Shad/herring aggregate.
When is blueback herring season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) blueback 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.