High-hatin Florida (Gulf)
Pareques acuminatus
Also called High-hat.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for high-hat in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Marine Life rule: hand-held nets, drop nets, barrier nets, and slurp guns only; 2-day possession limit of 40 (10 per species).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-hatThis page. | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
| Jackknife-fishLonger dorsal sail, three curved bars.Tell them apart | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
| Spotted drumSpotted rear fins.Tell them apart | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
How to tell it
Small black-and-white striped drum with a very tall first dorsal fin on juveniles; hovers under ledges. More on the high-hat page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
High-hat in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a high-hat in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appHigh-hat in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for high-hat in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many high-hat can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
When is high-hat season in Florida (Gulf)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) high-hat 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.