Clearwater Boat Rentals is proud to be your premier source for great rental boats in the Clearwater, St Petersburg, Tampa and Suncoast area.  Whether you're  looking  for  a boat for an hour, a day, or a week,  we can provide you with a boat that will fit your need and price.  Clearwater is an ideal location for boating and fishing, and Clearwater Boat Rentals is the ideal company to make your time on the water enjoyable.
Clearwater Boat Rentals  727-442-8601     Slip 57 Clearwater Municipal Marina, Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767 Open 7 days.
Clearwater Beach The Boats The Gulf Coast Fishing Pleasure Cruising
Charts Directions Rates/Discounts Weather/Cams Links
    Saltwater Fishing in Florida...

What You Must Know Before You Go

Common Game Fish of the Gulf Coast		  
   
Species: Barracuda

Typical Length: 50"
Species: Black Grouper

Typical Length: 24"

 
Species: Black Sea Bass

Typical Length: 12"
Species: Cobia

Typical Length: 33"

 
Species: Jack Crevale

Typical Length: 18"

 
Species: King Mackerel

Typical Length: 30"

 
Species: Red Grouper

Typical Length: 20"

 
Species: Red Snapper

Typical Length: 16"

 
Species: Sheepshead

Typical Length: 12"

 
Species: Snook

Typical Length: 30"

 
Species: Sea Trout

Typical Length: 18"

 
Species: Tarpon

Typical Length: 50"

 
   
   
 
    Costs for the types of licenses:
Florida Resident Licenses
One-Year License............................................................................ $13.50
Five-Year License............................................................................ $61.50
Gold Sportsman’s License............................................................... $83.50
Military Gold Sportsman’s License.................................................. $20.00
(Offers the same privileges as the Gold Sportsman’s License. Available only to FL
residents who are active or retired members of the US Armed Forces, the US Armed
Forces Reserve, the FL National Guard, the US Coast Guard or the US Coast Guard
Reserve, upon submission of a current military identification card and orders showing
you are stationed in FL. Can be purchased at county tax collector’s offices only.
Combination Licenses (Florida Residents Only)
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater ...................................................... $25.50
Fishing-Saltwater/Freshwater & Hunting...................................... $35.50
Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License (Florida Residents Only)
Age: 0-4..................................................................................... $126.50
Age: 5-12................................................................................... $226.50
Age: 13 or older......................................................................... $301.50
Lifetime Sportsman License (Florida Residents Only)
Age: 0-4..................................................................................... $401.50
Age: 5-12................................................................................... $701.50
Age: 13 or older...................................................................... $1,001.50
Non-Resident Licenses
Three-Day License......................................................................... $6.50
Seven-Day License....................................................................... $16.50
One-Year License......................................................................... $31.50
Additional Privilege Permit
Snook Permit..................................................................................
$2.00
Five-Year Snook Permit................................................................. $10.00
Crawfish Permit................................................................................. $2.00
Five-Year Crawfish Permit............................................................. $10.00
Tarpon Tag (available only at county tax collector office)............. $51.50
If you are not required to buy a license, you are not required to buy
permits (except tarpon).		  
       
       
   

Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations

This is a brief summary of regulations governing the taking of saltwater species in Florida for personal use. It is not intended or designed to provide specific information on commercial harvesting of these species. The failure to include complete laws, rules, and regulations in this summary does not relieve persons from abiding by those laws, rules, or regulations. State waters extend to 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic and 9 nautical miles on the Gulf. Federal rules apply beyond state waters. For species that do not have an established bag limit, more than 100 pounds or 2 fish per person per day (whichever is greater), is considered commercial quantities. A saltwater products license and commercial vessel registration is required to harvest commercial quantities of unregulated species. Issue Twenty Eight, January 2006
Species

Minimum Size Limits

Closed Season

Daily Rec. Bag Limit

Remarks
Amberjack - Greater 

28" fork

1 per person per day
Amberjack - Lesser &

Banded Rudderfish 

Not less than 14" or more than 22" fork

5 aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish
Billfish 

Sailfish 63" Blue Marlin 99"

White Marlin 66"

1 per person per day aggregate bag limit

Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. Federal regulations apply in state waters. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required.
Black Drum   T

Not less than 14" or more than 24"

5 per person per day

May possess one over 24".
Bluefish 

12" fork

10 per person per day
Bonefish 

18"

1 per person per day
Clams-Hard

1" thick across hinge

May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise

One 5 gal. bucket per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less per day (whole in shell)

Illegal to harvest from closed areas.

Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.
Cobia (Ling) 

33" fork

1 per person or 6 per vessel per day whichever is less

A saltwater products license and a restricted species endorsement are needed to sell Cobia or exceed the one-fish daily bag limit.
Crab-Blue

Sept 20 - Oct 4 Gulf state waters beyond 3 miles closed to traps; federal waters closed to traps

10 gallons whole per person per day

5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Crab-Blue Land

July 1 - Oct 31

20 per person per day

Trapping prohibited, harvest of egg-bearing females prohibited, harvest prohibited in state parks and from the right-of-way of federal, state or county maintained roads.
Crab-Stone

2 3/4" claw

May 16 – Oct 14

1 gal. Stone Crab claws per person or 2 gal. per vessel, whichever is less

5 traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited.
Crawfish 

(Spiny Lobster)

Larger than 3" carapace measured in the water

April 1 – Aug 5Exception: Sport Season - last consecutive Wed & Thurs of July each year

Regular season: 6 per person per day

Recreational trapping prohibited. Crawfish permit required when license required. Special bag limit for 2-day Sport season. Contact FWC regional office for current information on Sport season.
Dolphin 

20" fork Atlantic

10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day statewide

A saltwater products license, a restricted species endorsement and a federal commercial vessel permit are needed to sell Dolphin, exceed the 10-fish bag limit, or exceed 60 per vessel per day statewide.
Flounder   T

12"

10 per person per day

May be harvested by spearing.
Grouper-Black & Gag  

24" Atlantic & Monroe County; 22" Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County; 5 per person per day Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Grouper-Red  

20"

1 per person per day- Gulf

Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Grouper- Yellowfin &Yellowmouth  

20"

Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper-Scamp  

20" Atlantic & Monroe County; 16" Gulf (excluding Monroe County)

Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit
Grouper-Warsaw 

& Speckled Hind

1 per vessel per day of each species

Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit.
Grouper-all others 

Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit

Includes: Coney, Graysby, Misty, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Snowy, Tiger & Yellowedge.
Hogfish 

12" fork

5 per person per day
Mackerel-King 

24" fork

2 per person per day

Bag limit in Gulf-Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call SW for details.
Mackerel-Spanish 

12" fork

15 per person per day

Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited.
Mullet-Striped

(Black) & Silver

Feb 1 - Aug 31, 50 per person per day, aggregate of striped & silver mullet maximum 100 aggregate per vessel

Sept 1 - Jan 31, 50 per person or per vessel. Call DMFM for additional restrictions in Pinellas & Charlotte counties.
Oysters

3"

June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakulla, Levy counties. July, Aug., Sept. in all other areas

2 bags per person or vessel, whichever is less per day. 1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell)

Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas. Harvest from approved shellfish areas only.

Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas.
Permit & Pompano  T

Not less than 11" or more than 20" fork

6 per person per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano

May possess one over 20" of either Permit or Pompano. Vessel restriction: no more than 2 permit and pompano over 20" fork length at any time in any combination. Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.
Pompano-African  T

Not less than 24" fork

2 fish per person or per vessel per day whichever is less

hook & line gear only.
Red Drum (Redfish)   T

Not less than 18" or more than 27"

1 per person per day

Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited.
Red Porgy  

14" Atlantic

1 per person per day Atlantic
Scallops-Bay

Sept 11– June 30

2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per person per day, no more than 10 gallons whole, or 1/2 gallon meat per vessel anytime

Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line (near Aripeka-latitude 28 degrees,26.016 minutes North), to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County (longitude 85 degrees, 25.84 minutes West). Any bay scallops harvested and possessed must be landed within the allowable harvesting area
 
Species

Minimum Size Limits

Closed Season

Daily Rec. Bag Limit

Remarks
Sea Bass-Black  

10"

20 per person per day Atlantic
Shad

10 aggregate per person per day

American, Alabama & Hickory are part of aggregate limit. Hook & line gear only.
Shark

1 per person or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less

Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited. See list below for protected species.
Sheepshead   T

12"

15 per person per day

Snatching prohibited.
Shrimp

April & May closed to Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Clay counties

5 gallons heads on per person or vessel per day, whichever is less

Must be landed in a whole condition. Contact FWC Regional Office for closed areas.
Snapper-Black &

Wenchman 

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
Snapper-Cubera  

Not less than 12" or more than 30"

(see remarks)

Included within 10 per person per day snapper aggregate bag limit if under 30"

Allowed 2 Cubera Snapper over 30" per person or vessel per day which ever is less. 30" or larger not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-

Gray (Mangrove)  

10"

5 per person per day

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-Lane  

8"

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit if harvested from Atlantic

Lane Snapper harvested from the Gulf of Mexico not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-Mutton  

16"

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
Snapper-Red  

20" Atlantic;

16" Gulf

Nov 1 - April 14 Gulf Only

2 per person per day Atlantic; 4 per person per day Gulf

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-

Schoolmaster  

10"

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit
Snapper-

Vermilion  

11"

10 per person per day

Vermilion Snapper not included within the Snapper aggregate bag limit.
Snapper-

all other  

12"

Included within 10 per person per day Snapper aggregate bag limit

Includes: Blackfin, Dog, Mahogany, Queen, Silk & Yellowtail.
Snook   T

(All species)

Not less than 26" or more than 34"

Dec 15 - Jan 31 statewide;June, July, Aug Atlantic; May, June, July, Aug Gulf,

Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park

2 per person per day Atlantic; 1 per person per day Gulf, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park

Snook permit required when saltwater license required. State regulations apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited.

Sponge- Commercial

Greater than 5" in greatest dimension measured across the top of the sponge

10 per person per day

Includes: Sheepswool, Yellow, Grass, Glove, Finger, Wire, Reef & Velvet sponge.
Spotted

Seatrout   T

Not less than 15" or more than 20" (statewide) except one fish over 20" per person

Nov & Dec S. Region; Feb N.E. and N.W. Regions (See regional definitions below)

4 per person per day South Region; 5 per person per day N.E. and N.W. Regions

(See regional definitions below)
Swordfish 

47" lower jaw fork length

1 per person or 3 per vessel whichever is less

Lower jaw fork length is the straight-line measurement from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528. HMS permit required.
Tarpon

2 fish possession limit

Requires $50 tarpon tag to posses or harvest. Snatching prohibited. Boca Grande Pass has seasonal regulations. Contact DMFM for current information.
Triggerfish (Gray)  

12"

All species of Triggerfish except Gray and Ocean have live landing & live well requirements.
Tripletail   T

15"

2 per person per day

Hook & line gear only. No snatch hooks.
Wahoo 

2 per person per day

A saltwater products license, a restricted species endorsement and a federal commercial vessel permit are needed to sell Wahoo or exceed the 2-fish bag limit.
Weakfish   T

12"

4 per person per day

Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads & tails intact)  Measured as total length. T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.

 
Clearwater Beach The Boats The Gulf Coast Fishing Pleasure Cruising Charts Directions Rates/Discounts Weather/Cams Links