Skip to main content

Spotted Seatrout: Share Your Input

Spotted seatrout: Share your input on future management of this species with FWC



The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) needs your input on spotted seatrout management. The FWC is hosting several spotted seatrout in-person public workshops around the state. Learn about the current status of the seatrout fishery, staff's proposal for future management and share your input by attending one of these workshops.

Workshops will begin at 6 p.m. local time:



July 29: Destin, Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave.

July 31: Steinhatchee, Steinhatchee Community Center, 1013 Riverside Drive.

Aug. 6: Naples, Collier County Facilities Management, Training Room, 3335 Tamiami Trail E.

Aug 7: Melbourne, Brevard County Government Center, Florida Room, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way.

Potential changes on which staff will be gathering input include:





  • Splitting the northwest spotted seatrout management zone into two separate zones including the Western Panhandle (Escambia through Gulf counties) and the Big Bend (Franklin County through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line).


  • Moving the southern-most boundary between management zones to create the newly-renamed South Florida (Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County) and Central East Coast (Palm Beach through Volusia counties) zones.


  • Reducing bag limits.




    Western Panhandle: 5 to 3 fish.

    Big Bend: 5 to 4 fish.

    South Florida: 4 to 3 fish.

    Central East Coast: 4 to 2 fish.

    Northeast: 6 to 5 fish.




  • Changing the current recreational and commercial slot limits to 15 to 19 inches.




    Current recreational slot limit is 15 to 20 inches (with one over 20 inches allowed).

    Current commercial slot limit is 15 to 24 inches.




  • Prohibiting all harvest of spotted seatrout 19 inches and larger.


  • Prohibiting captain and crew from keeping a personal bag limit on a for-hire trip.


  • Re-establishing the February closure in Western Panhandle.


If you can't attend an in-person workshop, provide online comments at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Videos

The Most Underrated Fishing Kayak Build: Hobie Mirage Revolution 13

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

How to Transport Kayaks, the Easy Way: Yakima EasyRider Trailer Review

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

Are Inflatable Kayaks Any Good? NRS Pike Walkthrough and Features

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

Slayer Propel Max 12.5 Walkthrough: Innovative Design at its Finest

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

Jackson Coosa FD Walkthrough: Feature Rich, Big-Boy Approved Pedal Kayak

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

Best Lightweight Kayak On The Market? Hobie Lynx Review & Features

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

11 New Kayak Accessories for the Ultimate Kayak Fishing Rig

The fiberglass masters at Wildfire Marine demonstrate how to properly repair damaged gelcoat from start to finish. Repai...
Gear

How to Repair Damaged Gelcoat the Right Way

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Florida Sportsman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now