Bonefishin Florida (Gulf)
Albula vulpes
Also called Gray ghost.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for bonefish in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Catch-and-release only fishery since 2013.
FWC 2026· checked Put it back
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BonefishThis page. | Catch-and-release only | No harvest | Catch-and-release year-round |
| LadyfishMouth at the tip, jumps when hooked.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) | ||
| PermitDeep-bodied with a black-edged sickle tail.Tell them apart | 11-22 in fork length slot (outside Special Permit Zone) | 2 per person; 1 may be over 22 in (max 2 over 22 in per vessel) | Open year-round outside SPZ |
Florida (Gulf) state record
16.19 lb, Islamorada, 2007. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Chrome flats torpedo with an underslung mouth beneath a conical snout; tail flashes like foil. More on the bonefish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Bonefish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a bonefish in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBonefish in Florida (Gulf): the questions
Can you keep bonefish in Florida (Gulf)?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Gulf). Release it in the water where you can. Catch-and-release only fishery since 2013.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record bonefish?
16.19 lb, Islamorada (2007).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) bonefish 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.