Southern pufferin Florida (Gulf)
Sphoeroides nephelus
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for southern 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern pufferThis page. | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb default where open | Open year-round where allowed |
| Northern pufferTiny black pepper-grain spots, northern.Tell them apart | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb default where open | Open year-round where allowed |
| Striped burrfishSpined, striped.Tell them apart | Not listed by Florida (Gulf): the default applies (No size limit, 2 fish or 100 lb per person per day, whichever is greater) | ||
How to tell it
Smooth tan puffer with faint rings and blotches; inflates when annoyed. More on the southern puffer page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Southern puffer in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a southern puffer in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSouthern puffer in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for southern puffer in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many southern puffer can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
2 fish or 100 lb default where open.
When is southern puffer season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round where allowed.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) southern 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.