Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout Fishing in Florida

Spotted seatrout, or speckled trout, live in coastal waters over sand bottoms or seagrass beds and can be targeted in every major estuary around Florida. FWC manages them in nine regions: the 15 to 19 inch slot is the same everywhere, but the bag limit and closed season are not.

Florida rules from FWC, checked Sep 2026

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Everything here was copied from FWC in Sep 2026 and is listed with its source at the bottom of this page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the current rule with your captain or with FWC before you keep a fish.

Florida state record

  • 17.44 lb Ft. Pierce · May 11, 1995 · Craig F. Carson

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. Records are certified by FWC and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to 39 inches and 17 pounds. Common to 14 inches
Where it livesCoastal water over sand bottom and seagrass
What it eatsBaitfish, mullet, shrimp and crabs

FWC says they carry a pair of large canine teeth at the tip of the upper jaw.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • The slot is 15 to 19 inches statewide. What changes by region is how many you keep and when harvest closes.
  • Seven of the nine regions let you keep one fish over 19 inches per vessel, or per person from shore, counted within the bag limit. The Indian River Lagoon and Northeast regions do not allow any fish over 19 inches.
  • On a for-hire trip the captain and crew may not keep a bag limit.

Panhandle: when you can keep one

Florida-Alabama border east into Franklin County.

  • All anglersHarvest closed in February. Open March 1 to January 31FWC.
15 to 19 inches total lengthSize limit
Three per person per dayDaily limit. Includes up to one fish over 19 inches per vessel, or per person from shore; it counts toward the bag limit.

Big Bend: when you can keep one

Franklin County south to Fred Howard Park in Pinellas County.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
15 to 19 inches total lengthSize limit
Five per person per dayDaily limit. Includes up to one fish over 19 inches per vessel, or per person from shore; it counts toward the bag limit.

Tampa Bay through Southeast: when you can keep one

Fred Howard Park south and around to the Martin and Palm Beach county line (Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest and Southeast regions), not including Lake Okeechobee. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
15 to 19 inches total lengthSize limit
Three per person per dayDaily limit. Includes up to one fish over 19 inches per vessel, or per person from shore; it counts toward the bag limit.

Indian River Lagoon: when you can keep one

Volusia County south to the Martin and Palm Beach county line, including adjacent federal waters, the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee.

  • All anglersHarvest closed November 1 to December 31. Open January 1 to October 31FWC.
15 to 19 inches total length. Nothing over 19 inchesSize limit
Two per person per dayDaily limit. No over-slot fish allowed in this region.

Northeast: when you can keep one

Florida-Georgia border south to the Indian River Lagoon region.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
15 to 19 inches total length. Nothing over 19 inchesSize limit
Three per person per dayDaily limit. No over-slot fish allowed in this region.

Gear rules

Hook and line and cast net only; no multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait, and no snatching. Fish must stay whole until landed ashore.

Questions about speckled trout

What is the size limit?

15 to 19 inches total length statewide. Seven of nine regions allow one fish over 19 inches per vessel (or per person from shore), counted in the bag limit; the Indian River Lagoon and Northeast regions allow none.

How many can each person keep?

Per day: five in the Big Bend, three in most regions, and two in the Indian River Lagoon.

Is it ever closed?

Yes. The Panhandle closes in February, and the Indian River Lagoon closes November 1 to December 31.

Can the crew keep their limit on a charter?

No. FWC says for-hire captain and crew may not keep a bag limit.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, spotted seatrout regulations and FWC, spotted seatrout profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.