SlotGaugeCheck a catchRed Drum regulations in Florida
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Red Drum size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 4 per vessel |
| Indian River Lagoon region | Closed to harvest | — | — |
| Southeast region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 2 per vessel |
| Southwest region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 2 per vessel |
| Charlotte Harbor region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 2 per vessel |
| Sarasota Bay region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 2 per vessel |
| Tampa Bay region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 2 per vessel |
| Big Bend region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 4 per vessel |
| Panhandle region | Open year-round | 18–27 inch slot | 1 per person, 4 per vessel |
Notes
- Indian River Lagoon region is catch-and-release only.
Exact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length
- Limit
- 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit
- Northeast — as printed
- “Northeast Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit”
- Indian River Lagoon — as printed
- “Indian River Lagoon Region: Catch-and-Release only.”
- Southeast — as printed
- “Southeast Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit”
- Southwest — as printed
- “Southwest Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit”
- Charlotte Harbor — as printed
- “Charlotte Harbor Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit”
- Sarasota Bay — as printed
- “Sarasota Bay Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit”
- Tampa Bay — as printed
- “Tampa Bay Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 2 fish vessel limit”
- Big Bend — as printed
- “Big Bend Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit”
- Panhandle — as printed
- “Panhandle Region: Open year-round; Slot Limit: Not less than 18" no more than 27" total length; Daily Bag Limit: 1 fish per person per day; 4 fish vessel limit”
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the red drum
Species of fish
The red drum, also known as redfish, channel bass, puppy drum, spottail bass, or simply red, is a game fish found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to northern Mexico. It is the only species in the genus Sciaenops.
Read more about Red drum on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Red Drum in Florida?
18–27 inch slot in Florida state waters.
How many Red Drum can you keep per day in Florida?
1 per person, 4 per vessel.
When is Red Drum season in Florida?
Open year-round.
Is my Red Drum a keeper today?
A red drum is a keeper today if it measures between 18 and 27 inches, with a daily limit of 1.