The Local
Reference Shelf.
Licenses, regulations, tides, gear, knots, ramps, and seasonal calendars — the reference pages we send our own guests before a trip. Free, current, and useful whether you fish with us or on your own.
Pick a Category.
Every guide is filed under one of five categories. Choose one, or jump straight to the featured guides below.
Florida saltwater fishing licenses, size and bag limits, seasons, and how to stay legal.
Browse → 3 guidesReading conditions, tide stations, wind windows, and what cancels a charter.
Browse → Coming soonWhat we run on the boat, what to bring, and what you actually need to buy yourself.
Browse → 20 guidesStep-by-step guides for knots, casting, beginner trips, and family fishing days.
Browse → 19 guidesSeasonal calendars, boat ramp lists, and quick-reference info you can come back to.
Browse →Featured Guides.
The most recently reviewed pages — regulations and dates get re-checked regularly, so these are the freshest.
Black drum rules Florida 2026: 14–24 inch slot, 5 per day, one fish over 24 inches allowed. No closed season. Which drum to keep and which to release.
Reviewed August 2026 ⚖️ Regulations & LicensesGulf cobia rules 2026: 36-inch fork-length minimum, 1 per person, 2 per vessel, open year-round. April–May is the Sarasota window.
Reviewed August 2026 ⚖️ Regulations & LicensesEvery Gulf fishing season in one place: snook, grouper, redfish, and seatrout dates, slots, and bag limits for 2026.
Reviewed August 2026 ⚖️ Regulations & LicensesFall flounder closure October 15–November 30; 14-inch minimum, 5-fish bag limit. Gigging legal except during closure. Sarasota pass edges and jetties.
Reviewed August 2026 ⚖️ Regulations & LicensesSarasota seatrout regulations 2026: 15-19 inch slot, 3 per person daily, open year-round, 1 over-slot per vessel. April 1 regional framework.
Reviewed August 2026 ⚖️ Regulations & LicensesJack crevalle have no size limit in Florida—unregulated species with default 100 lb or 2 fish per day. Year-round fishing with saltwater license.
Reviewed August 2026