Florida Keys: fishing limits, piers and bridges

As of / last verified: October 14, 2026 against official sources · Source: FWC: Spotted Seatrout

Quick answer

Area: All of Monroe County falls in FWC's Southwest Region for snook, seatrout and redfish, and inside the Special Permit Zone for permit.
Key limits: See the table below (verified against FWC)
Piers listed: 2
Permits: Saltwater license unless exempt or covered by a pier; snook permit for snook

Florida Keys limits by species

Species	FWC region/zone	Season	Size	Bag / person
Spotted seatrout	Southwest Region	Year-round	15–19" (1 over-slot per vessel)	3
Snook	Southwest Region	Mar 1–Apr 30; Oct 1–Nov 30	28–33"	1
Redfish	Southwest Region	Year-round	18–27"	1 (2 per vessel)
Permit	Special Permit Zone	Closed Apr 1–Jul 31	22" fork length min	1 (2 per vessel)
Mutton snapper	Atlantic & Gulf	Year-round	18" TL	5 (within 10-snapper aggregate)
Stone crab claws	Statewide	Oct 15–May 1	2 7/8" claw	1 gal/person or 2 gal/vessel

Piers & bridges in Florida Keys

Long Key Viaduct Fishing Bridge
US-1, MM 63–65.5 (Monroe County). 24 hours (FWC Boating & Angling Guide (survey Oct 2010; confirm on site)); None
Ohio–Bahia Honda Channel Fishing Bridge
Lower Keys, US-1 (Monroe County). 24 hours (FWC Boating & Angling Guide (survey Oct 2010; confirm on site)); None

Related rules

Don't get ticketed: checklist

Confirm exactly which FWC region you are in. Boundaries follow specific landmarks and coordinates.
Bring your license unless the pier says it is covered or you are exempt.
Snook: carry the snook permit, even for catch-and-release.
Shore shark fishing (including piers and bridges) needs the free Shore-based Shark Fishing permit.

Permit steps

Buy a saltwater license (unless exempt) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Add the snook permit if targeting snook.
Check the pier page for hours, fees and closures.

Frequently asked questions

What fishing regions apply in Florida Keys?

All of Monroe County falls in FWC's Southwest Region for snook, seatrout and redfish, and inside the Special Permit Zone for permit.

Is flounder season open in Florida Keys?

Flounder is closed statewide every year from October 15 through November 30, and reopens December 1. Minimum size is 14 inches and the bag limit is 5.

Do piers in Florida Keys cover my fishing license?

It depends on the pier. Some include a license in the entry fee and others do not. Each pier page below says what the official operator states.

Official sources

Last verified: October 14, 2026.

Related guides

Disclaimer: This page is a plain-English summary for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules, seasons and boundaries can change at short notice, including by emergency order. Always check the current regulations on MyFWC.com before you fish.