Red drumin Florida (Gulf)
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish, Puppy drum, Channel bass, Spottail bass.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for red drum in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Indian River Lagoon region is catch-and-release only.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
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.
Harvest and possession prohibited in Gulf federal waters; state rules apply inside state waters.
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.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red drumThis page. | 18-27 in slot | 1 per person; vessel limit 2 (Tampa Bay through Southeast) or 4 (Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast) | Open year-round |
| Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail spot.Tell them apart | 14-24 in slot | 5 per person (one may be over 24 in) | Open year-round |
Florida (Gulf) state record
52.31 lb, Cocoa, 1996. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red drum in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a red drum in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appRed drum in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for red drum in Florida (Gulf)?
18-27 in slot. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
1 per person; vessel limit 2 (Tampa Bay through Southeast) or 4 (Panhandle, Big Bend, Northeast).
When is red drum season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record red drum?
52.31 lb, Cocoa (1996).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) red drum 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.