Checkered pufferin Florida (Gulf)
Sphoeroides testudineus
Also called Puffer, Blowfish.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for checkered 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checkered pufferThis page. | No size limit | See note | Year-round |
| Bandtail pufferDark blotches along the belly line, banded tail.Tell them apart | No size limit | See note | Year-round |
| Smooth pufferLarge, plain silver.Tell them apart | No size limit | See note | Year-round |
How to tell it
Pale puffer with a dark net-like pattern over the back and bars around the eyes; inflates when handled. More on the checkered puffer page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Checkered puffer in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a checkered puffer in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appCheckered puffer in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for checkered puffer in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many checkered puffer can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
See note.
When is checkered puffer season in Florida (Gulf)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) checkered 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.