Caribbean reef sharkin Florida (Gulf)
Carcharhinus perezii
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for Caribbean reef shark in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
FWC prohibited shark list.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean reef sharkThis page. | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Blacktip sharkCrisp black fin tips, pointed snout.Tell them apart | No size limit | 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel | Open year-round |
| Sandbar sharkMuch taller first dorsal.Tell them apart | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Bull sharkBroader head, stockier still.Tell them apart | 54 in fork length min | 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel | Open year-round |
How to tell it
Bulky gray reef shark with a short blunt snout and dusky (not black-tipped) fin undersides — the default shark on Keys reefs. More on the Caribbean reef shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Caribbean reef shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a Caribbean reef shark in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appCaribbean reef shark in Florida (Gulf): the questions
Can you keep Caribbean reef shark in Florida (Gulf)?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Gulf). Release it in the water where you can. FWC prohibited shark list.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) Caribbean reef shark 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.