White Marlin

White Marlin Fishing in Florida

To keep a white marlin it must be at least 66 inches lower jaw fork length, and FWC says a federal HMS angling permit is required in federal waters but not in state waters.

Florida rules from FWC and NOAA Fisheries, 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 and NOAA Fisheries 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

  • 161.06 lb Miami Beach · March 20, 1938 · L. F. Hooper

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

Which rules apply to your trip

  • In Florida state waters FWC does not require a federal HMS permit for billfish. In federal waters the vessel needs a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit; tournament vessels may instead use an Atlantic Tunas General category or Swordfish General Commercial permit.
  • On a boat that holds an HMS permit, federal rules apply even in state waters, unless the state rule is stricter.
  • U.S. total landings of blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish combined are limited to 250 a year.
  • Land one and it must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours, at 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.

White marlin, Florida state waters: when you can keep one

Florida state waters.

  • All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
66 inches, lower jaw to forkSize limit
1 billfish per personDaily limit. FWC: no federal HMS permit is needed in state waters. On a boat that holds an HMS permit, federal rules apply unless the state rule is stricter.

White marlin, federal waters: when you can keep one

Federal waters, under NOAA Fisheries Atlantic billfish rules.

  • Anglers on a permitted vesselOpenNOAA Fisheries.
66 inches, lower jaw to forkSize limit
No set bag limitDaily limit. U.S. total landings of blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish combined are limited to 250 a year. Billfish cannot be kept if a hammerhead or oceanic whitetip shark is already on board or has been offloaded from the vessel.

Questions about white marlin

How big does a white marlin have to be to keep?

66 inches, measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

Do we need a permit?

Not in Florida state waters, per FWC. In federal waters the vessel needs a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit (tournament vessels may use an Atlantic Tunas General category or Swordfish General Commercial permit). A boat that holds an HMS permit follows federal rules in state waters unless the state rule is more restrictive.

Does a landed marlin have to be reported?

Yes. FWC says all landed billfish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours, at 800-894-5528 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from NOAA Fisheries, recreational Atlantic billfish and NOAA Fisheries, HMS reporting and FWC, billfish, tuna and swordfish regulations in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.