NEW: The FWC approved creating a slot limit of 15 to 36 inches allowing for one fish greater than 36 inches per person or per vessel, whichever is less in some S. Florida counties at the Nov. meeting in St. Petersburg. These changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2017.
Barracuda: Sphyraena barracuda
Florida Recreational and Commercial Regulations:
Minimum Size Limit None
Effective Jan. 1, 2017: Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties ONLY:
15-36 inch fork length slot limit with 1 fish greater than 36 inches fork length per person or vessel per day allowed
Daily Bag Limit Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties ONLY: 2 fish per person, 6 fish per vessel
Closed Season None
Management:
Stakeholders in southeast Florida and the Florida Keys have voiced concerns about declining barracuda numbers observed when fishing and diving.
FWC staff gathered public input from concerned stakeholders at workshops.
Bag limits off Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties became effective Nov. 1, 2015, to prevent further declines and conserve barracuda in the region.
The FWC approved creating a slot limit of 15 to 36 inches allowing for one fish greater than 36 inches per person or per vessel, whichever is less at the November 2016 meeting in St. Petersburg. This change goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017.