30412718, 68B-37.002 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 30412718

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

SPOTTED SEATROUT

Overview

RULE:

68B-37.002	Definitions
68B-37.003	Size Limits for Recreational and Commercial Harvest; Whole Condition Requirement
68B-37.004	Regional Recreational Bag Limits; Bag Limit for Captain and Crew on For-hire Trips; Commercial Bag, Vessel, and Landing Limits
68B-37.005	Seasons
68B-37.007	Purchase and Sale Prohibitions

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this rulemaking is to develop a new holistic management approach for spotted seatrout that incorporates multiple metrics to evaluate the fishery on a smaller regional scale and tailor management strategies to local concerns and needs. The effect of this rulemaking would create additional regions that would allow for local conditions to be taken into consideration in setting recreational and commercial bag limits, size limits, seasons, and other harvest regulations.

SUMMARY:

The proposed management approach for spotted seatrout is the next step in Florida’s transition to holistic management of its most popular inshore fisheries, following redfish in 2022 and snook in 2024. Under this approach, the state would be divided into nine management regions. Each region would be evaluated using six management metrics, and the regional evaluations would then be used to inform commercial and recreational harvest regulations. This approach provides additional insight for management and more flexibility to address localized concerns.

In order to implement this holistic approach, the proposed rules would establish nine management regions for spotted seatrout and set recreational and commercial bag limits, size limits, seasons, and other harvest regulations for each region.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

1/14/2026 Vol. 52/09

COMMENTS:

From 1/14/2026 To 2/4/2026 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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