Bonefish: Florida catch-and-release rules

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

Bonefish limit in Florida: bonefish are catch-and-release only. The tournament exemption ended September 1, 2013, and a multiple hook with live or dead natural bait has been prohibited since that date. FWC says they can be caught year-round in the Keys, with a peak generally from March through October.

Quick answer

Harvest: Catch-and-release only
Tournament weigh-in: Exemption eliminated; change effective Sept. 1, 2013
Gear: A multiple hook with live or dead natural bait is prohibited
When in the Keys: Year-round, with a peak generally March through October

Bonefish: side view for identification — Bonefish. Credit: NOAA. Public domain

Bonefish limits

Waters	Size	Bag	Season
Florida	No harvest size. Catch-and-release only	No harvest bag. Possession for tournament scales is not allowed	Catch-and-release. Keys season in the biology text: year-round, peak generally March through October

FWC says bonefish mature at three to four years (17 to 18 inches total length), may live longer than 23 years, and grow to be three feet long and 15 pounds. Spawning is November through May, probably in deep water or offshore. A University of Miami study cited on the page estimated one Keys bonefish at $3,500 a year, nearly $75,000 over its life.

How do you identify Bonefish?

Silvery, with a bluish or greenish back, a slender round body, and a long snout that overhangs the lower jaw.
Dark streaks on the upper half of the body and faint cross-bands down to the lateral line. The outer dorsal and tail fins are shaded black.
Ladyfish have a mouth at the very front of the head, not an overhanging snout.
The profile lists size up to 18 pounds, rarely more than 10, with an average of 3 to 5 pounds, and says fish over 10 pounds are found in Florida. The state record is 16 lb 3 oz, caught near Islamorada. The rules page says they grow to three feet and 15 pounds.

Where and when to catch Bonefish in Florida?

Bonefish are inshore fish in shallow water, often less than one foot deep, usually over seagrass and occasionally over white sand. They travel in small schools and eat shrimp, crabs and other invertebrates. FWC says the shallow flats of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay are a destination for large bonefish, and that they can be caught year-round in the Keys, with the peak generally March through October. Spawning is November through May. The profile says they should be carefully released and are very seldom eaten. Live shrimp, or a jig tipped with shrimp, is the bait FWC names for conventional tackle.

Regions

Florida Keys fishing rules

Frequently asked questions

Can you keep a bonefish in Florida?

No. Bonefish are catch-and-release only. The tournament exemption that allowed temporary possession for a scale was eliminated effective September 1, 2013.

Can you use a treble hook with bait for bonefish?

A multiple hook used with live or dead natural bait to harvest or attempt to harvest bonefish has been prohibited since September 1, 2013.

When is bonefish season in the Keys?

FWC says bonefish can be caught year-round in the Keys, and that the peak is generally March through October. That is a fishing season in the biology text, not a harvest season.

How big do bonefish get?

The rules page says they grow to three feet and 15 pounds and mature at 17 to 18 inches total length. The profile says up to 18 pounds, rarely more than 10, average 3 to 5 pounds. The state record is 16 lb 3 oz, near Islamorada.

Official sources

FWC: Bonefish

Last verified: October 14, 2026.

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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.