Restrictions on redfish vary depending on Florida`s location, so it`s important to know where you`re fishing and what regulations apply. For the entire state, redfish must be between 18 and 27 inches long to be harvested. The daily pocket limits are 2 fish per person or 8 per vessel in the North-East zone and 1 fish per person or 8 fish per vessel in the North-West and South zones. Some areas have special restrictions and it is important to check the regulations before entering the water. Red drum fishing in South Carolina`s Low Country is amazing with plenty of backwaters to explore in search of Bull Red. The waters of the backcountry are second to none and are an amazing place to jump redfish. If you want to get in on the action, our South Carolina redfish guides have you covered. A bag limit is a law imposed on hunters and anglers to limit the number of animals within a particular species or group of species they are allowed to kill and keep. Size restrictions and hunting seasons are sometimes accompanied by harvest restrictions that limit the size of these animals and the time of year when hunters are legally allowed to kill them.
Those who violate these or other hunting laws are called poachers. Rockfish in South Carolina must be between 15 and 23 inches long to be legally preserved. The daily catch limit is 3 fish per person. The rich bays, rivers, and swamps of the Mississippi River are teeming with redfish for most of the year. With so many places to choose from, our Mississippi redfish guides will keep you posted. “With this new forward-looking management approach, we are trying to do the best we can for this fishery. This agency is committed to working proactively to preserve Florida`s redfish fishery for future generations while balancing stakeholder interests,” said Steven Hudson, Commissioner of the FWC. The new management approach includes annual reviews of redfish fisheries, and redfish rules may be amended annually in response to the reviews. For Sarasota Bay through Collier County, redfish regulations apply ONLY until May 31, 2022. This includes all state waters south of State Highway 64 in MANATEE County, including PALMA SOLA BAY through GORDON PASS in COLLIER County. It does not include the Braden River, the Manatee River or its tributaries. Redfish must be between 18 and 30 inches in age to be legally harvested in Mississippi.
The daily catch limit is 3 fish per person. Recreational anglers can keep redfish above 30 inches each year. Only allow redfish to be captured and released in the Indian River Lagoon area. Nationally, captains and crew members are prohibited from maintaining a redfish pocket limit on rental trips. In the Atlantic, redfish is regulated in state waters, with federal waters completely prohibiting the harvesting of red barrels. States have daily slot limits and pocket limits to prevent overfishing. Texas has a variety of places to catch redfish with everything from bustling Galveston Bay to the crystal clear waters of Laguna Madre. With large fish and a high fish population, Texas has all the qualities that make excellent red drum fishing. Check out our Texas redfish guides to plan your next fishing trip. American alligator hunters with the appropriate permit are allowed to kill and keep two non-hatching alligators per day, and each must be larger than 18 inches (46 cm).
In addition, all hunters should be aware of the legal alligator harvesting season, which typically begins on September 1 in Florida. The length of the legal season may vary depending on the official. The 2006 season lasted 11 weeks. Prohibit the captain and crew from maintaining a redfish pocket limit if redfish on a rental trip Redfish does not have a closed season in Atlantic State waters and can be caught year-round. The best season to catch redfish varies by location. Florida has the Atlantic and Gulf coasts where top-notch redfish can be caught year-round. Florida has incredible fishing throughout the state and regularly produces some of the biggest goldfish each year. Start planning your next fishing trip by checking out our Florida redfish guides. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday approved new redfish management regulations and regions for state waters. The decisions come after the first day of a two-day meeting where votes on several new rules were expected. The amendments will come into force on September 1, 2022.
Annual reviews of redfish fishing and regulations in Florida will determine future changes. To find out about current recreational redfish regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Redfish”. This page will be updated with the new rules as soon as they come into effect. * In northeastern Florida (see map below) of Georgia, you can catch two fish a day. Everywhere else, there is one redfish a day. For current regulations for redfish, click here. Redfish must be at least 16 inches and no more than 27 inches to be legally harvested in Louisiana. The daily pocket limit is 5 fish per person, two of which are allowed to exceed the maximum length. At the Commission meeting in July 2022, new rules on redfish were adopted, which are expected to enter into force on 1 September 2022. FWC representatives stated that changes to redfish regions and management regulations will better capture regional differences and improve fisher satisfaction. Red drums do not have an open season in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico and redfish fishing is strictly prohibited.
In state waters, redfish do not have a closed season and can be fished year-round within catch limits set by each state. The best season to catch redfish in the gulf is usually from late summer to fall, but varies depending on your specific location. Anglers must have a saltwater fishing licence if they are fishing below the salt water line (all redfish fishermen are in the best position to obtain the saltwater licence). Full text of the redfish law – Download the PDF here. Florida Redfish Laws Full Text-68B-22 A redfish must be at least 20 “but not more than 28” long to be fished legally.