CHUM Get the app

Rules by state · Florida (Gulf)

Puddingwifein Florida (Gulf)

Halichoeres radiatus

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 puddingwife in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.

SizeNo size limit
Bag5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate
SeasonYear-round

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.

FishSizeBagSeason
PuddingwifeThis page.No size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-round
Slippery dickSmall, striped.Tell them apartNo size limit5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregateYear-round

How to tell it

Large blue-green wrasse with pale vertical bars, a yellow tail, and blue lines on the head. More on the puddingwife page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Puddingwife in other states

In the app

Point the camera at a puddingwife in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.

Get the app

Puddingwife in Florida (Gulf): the questions

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

No size limit.

How many puddingwife can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?

5 per species within 20-organism marine life aggregate.

When is puddingwife season in Florida (Gulf)?

Year-round.

How current is this Florida (Gulf) puddingwife 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.