Northern pufferin Florida (Gulf)
Sphoeroides maculatus
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for northern puffer in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Harvest of Sphoeroides puffers prohibited in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties (68B-3.007, saxitoxin risk).
FWC 2026· checked Open
How to tell it
Inflates; olive back, tiny mouth. More on the northern puffer page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Northern puffer in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a northern puffer in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appNorthern puffer in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for northern puffer in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many northern puffer can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
2 fish or 100 lb default where open.
When is northern puffer season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round where allowed.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) northern 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.