Florida permit fish harvest changes in the Special Permit Zone

That answer is about permit, Trachinotus falcatus, not Florida pompano or African pompano. The three species share one FWC regulation page, so identify the fish before measuring it.

The name creates another point of confusion. There is no separate recreational endorsement for permit fish on the FWC saltwater license and permit list. You still need the saltwater license that fits the trip unless an FWC exemption applies.

The next question is where the fish was caught. The Special Permit Zone covers South Florida waters south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic side and south of Cape Sable on the Gulf side, including part of Biscayne Bay. Inside that zone, permit must measure at least 22 inches fork length. The daily limit is one per harvester, the vessel limit is two, and harvest is closed each year from April 1 through July 31.

Outside the Special Permit Zone, the rule uses an 11-to-22-inch fork-length slot. A harvester may keep two permit per day, including one fish over 22 inches. A vessel may have no more than two permit over 22 inches. The outside-zone season is open year-round.

Gear still matters. In state waters, permit harvest is hook-and-line only. The rule also prohibits snatching and the use of a multiple hook with live or dead natural bait. Federal waters allow hook and line or spearing, and Biscayne National Park can add another location-specific rule.

Fork length is a straight-line measurement from the tip of the closed jaw or snout to the center of the fork in the tail. Do not run a flexible tape along the curve of the fish because that can make the measurement look longer than it is.

A fish that is legal to keep still deserves a food check. Florida Health’s seafood guidance points anglers to local fish-consumption advisories because the useful answer can change with the species, waterbody, and person eating the fish. That health question is separate from the harvest rule.

Before putting a permit on ice, confirm the species, exact zone, date, fork length, daily and vessel count, gear, and license or exemption. If one of those details is unclear, check the live FWC page while the fish can still be released.