Jackknife-fishin Florida (Gulf)
Equetus lanceolatus
Also called Jackknife-fish.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for jackknife-fish 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackknife-fishThis page. | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
| High-hatHorizontal stripes.Tell them apart | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
| Spotted drumSpotted fins.Tell them apart | No size limit | 5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate | Year-round |
How to tell it
Black-and-white drum with a sail-like first dorsal fin and a curved black bar running from the dorsal into the tail. More on the jackknife-fish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Jackknife-fish in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a jackknife-fish in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appJackknife-fish in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for jackknife-fish in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many jackknife-fish can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.
When is jackknife-fish season in Florida (Gulf)?
Year-round.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) jackknife-fish 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.