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Rules by state · Florida (Gulf)

Lesser amberjackin Florida (Gulf)

Seriola fasciata

Recreational rule, FWC 2026, checked Sep 20, 2026. The official rulebook is the final word.

The rule in Florida (Gulf)

Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for lesser amberjack in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.

Size14-22 in fork length slot
Bag5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined)
SeasonOpen year-round

Counts toward an aggregate limit: Lesser amberjack/banded rudderfish aggregate.

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.

Size14-22 in fork length slot
Bag5-fish jacks aggregate (with banded rudderfish)
SeasonOpen year-round

NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20

Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules

Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.

FishSizeBagSeason
Lesser amberjackThis page.14-22 in fork length slot5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined)Open year-round
Greater amberjackEye stripe runs into the first dorsal.Tell them apart34 in fork length min1 per person2026 Gulf season: Sep 1-Oct 13

How to tell it

Smallest amberjack; eye stripe ends before the dorsal, big eye. More on the lesser amberjack page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Lesser amberjack in other states

Florida (Atlantic)North CarolinaEvery state

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Lesser amberjack in Florida (Gulf): the questions

What is the size limit for lesser amberjack in Florida (Gulf)?

14-22 in fork length slot. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.

How many lesser amberjack can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?

5 per person (lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish combined). It counts toward an aggregate: Lesser amberjack/banded rudderfish aggregate.

When is lesser amberjack season in Florida (Gulf)?

Open year-round.

How current is this Florida (Gulf) lesser amberjack 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.