Hogfishin Florida (Gulf)
Lachnolaimus maximus
Also called Hog snapper.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for hogfish in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Gulf zone = state waters north of Cape Sable.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
FWC 2026· checked Open
Beyond 9 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 9-mile line, written by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
Gulf stock is defined as waters north of 25 deg 09 min N off Florida's west coast.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Florida (Gulf) state record
24.2 lb, Panama City Beach, 2022. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Pig-like snout, first three dorsal spines drawn into long streamers, big males blush deep red. More on the hogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Hogfish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a hogfish in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appHogfish in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for hogfish in Florida (Gulf)?
14 in fork length min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many hogfish can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
5 per person.
When is hogfish season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record hogfish?
24.2 lb, Panama City Beach (2022).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) hogfish 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.