One table for every Gulf-coast fishing season, size limit, and bag limit that applies to Sarasota-area waters, current as of August 2026. Snook harvest reopens September 1 in the Sarasota Bay region, the same day gag grouper opens for a 14-day window in state waters and a longer run offshore. Rules change by executive order — verify current regulations before you fish.
What’s open right now (late August 2026)
- Closed: snook (28–33” slot, Sarasota Bay region) — closed since May 1, reopens September 1. South of Venice (Charlotte Harbor, Southwest region), snook stays closed until October 1.
- Closed: gag grouper (24” minimum) — closed, opens September 1 in state waters.
- Open for harvest: red grouper (20” min), flounder (14” min), sheepshead (12” min), spotted seatrout (15–19” slot), redfish (18–27” slot), Spanish mackerel (12” fork), king mackerel (24” fork), cobia (36” fork), mangrove snapper (10” state waters), black drum (14–24” slot), tripletail (18” min), and pompano (11” fork).
- Catch-and-release only, year-round: tarpon.
- Flounder’s open window closes again October 15, squarely inside the fall run — keep before then.
The 2026 season table
The Sarasota Bay Region — State Road 64 in Bradenton south to 27°04.727′ N near the Venice airport — sets the season below for snook, redfish, and spotted seatrout. Grouper and mangrove snapper split again 9 nautical miles offshore, where state rules hand off to federal ones.
| Species | 2026 season (Gulf) | Size limit | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snook — season guide | Mar 1–Apr 30, Sep 1–Nov 30 (Sarasota Bay region) | 28–33” slot TL | 1/person/day |
| Gag grouper — season guide | Sep 1–14 state waters; Sep 1–Oct 1 federal | 24” TL min | 2/person (4-grouper aggregate) |
| Red grouper — season guide | Open year-round, state waters; federal closed Feb 1–Mar 31 beyond 120 ft | 20” TL min | 2/person (4-grouper aggregate) |
| Flounder | Open year-round; closed Oct 15–Nov 30 | 14” TL min | 5/person/day |
| Sheepshead | Open year-round | 12” TL min | 8/person/day (50/vessel Mar–Apr) |
| Spotted seatrout | Open year-round (Sarasota Bay Region) | 15–19” slot TL | 3/person/day |
| Redfish | Open year-round (Sarasota Bay Region) | 18–27” slot TL | 1/person, 2/vessel per day |
| Spanish mackerel | Open year-round | 12” fork length min | 15/harvester/day |
| King mackerel | Open year-round | 24” fork length min | 3/harvester/day |
| Cobia | Open year-round | 36” fork length min | 1/person, 2/vessel (whichever is less) |
| Mangrove snapper | Open year-round | 10” TL state; 12” federal | 5/person state; 10/person federal (10-snapper aggregate) |
| Black drum | Open year-round | 14–24” slot TL | 5/harvester/day (1 may be over 24”) |
| Tripletail | Open year-round | 18” TL min | 2/person/day |
| Pompano | Open year-round | 11” fork length min | 6/harvester/day |
| Tarpon | Catch-and-release only | — | Catch-and-release only |
Four Big Bend counties (Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor) run a separate gag grouper calendar, April 1–June 30 and September 1–December 31 — well north of this coast and not the window that governs Sarasota trips.
Keeping some of these fish takes more than a season and a size. Snook needs a $10 snook stamp on top of the saltwater license. Grouper and mangrove snapper are Gulf reef fish — every private boat needs the free State Reef Fish Angler designation and a rigged descending device or venting tool. Redfish carry a 4-fish per person transport limit off the water. On snook, grouper, and redfish trips, captain and crew keep zero — the bag limit belongs to paying anglers only.
Month by month: what opens and closes
- January 1 — red grouper: “The Edges” closed area begins in federal waters (through April 30)
- February 1 — red grouper: federal shallow-water closure begins (beyond 120 ft)
- March 1 — snook spring season opens (Sarasota Bay region and north), 28–33” slot
- April 1 — red grouper: federal shallow-water closure ends
- April 30 — snook spring season closes; closed through August 31
- May 2 — stone crab traps pull; tripletail scatter from buoy lines to markers
- September 1 — snook harvest reopens (Sarasota region north; Charlotte Harbor waits until Oct 1); gag grouper opens in state waters, 24” minimum
- September 14 — gag grouper closes in state waters (federal stays open)
- October 1 — gag grouper closes in federal waters, 12:01 a.m.
- October 15 — flounder closes statewide; stone crab traps redeploy and the tripletail buoy fishery reloads
- November 30 — snook fall season closes; closed through February 28
- December 1 — flounder reopens
FAQ
What fish are in season in Sarasota right now? Late August 2026: red grouper, flounder, sheepshead, spotted seatrout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, mangrove snapper, black drum, tripletail, and pompano are all open. Snook and gag grouper stay closed until September 1. Tarpon are always catch-and-release, with no closed season.
What opens September 1 in Florida? Snook harvest reopens in the Sarasota Bay region and every Gulf region north of it — 28–33” slot, one fish per person. Gag grouper season opens the same day: 14 days in Gulf state waters, through October 1 in federal waters. Charlotte Harbor and Southwest-region snook stay closed until October 1.
Is grouper season open in the Gulf? Red grouper: yes, year-round in state waters, 20” minimum, 2-fish bag. Gag grouper: closed until September 1, then open 14 days in state waters and through September in federal waters, 24” minimum. Both count toward the same 4-grouper aggregate.
What months are best for a Sarasota charter? September and October stack the most open seasons at once — snook reopens, gag grouper’s window falls here, redfish schools stage at the passes, and Spanish mackerel and pompano run the beaches. April is the spring equivalent: cobia, king and Spanish mackerel, and pompano all peak together. February and March add sheepshead and black drum, both spawning on the bridges and jetties.
Related
Two pages cover the marquee September openers in full: snook season 2026 and grouper season 2026. Get legal first with the Florida fishing license guide and the FWC regulations explainer, then check the monthly fishing report for current conditions. Every other species on this page has its own deeper regulations page — slot measurements, gear rules, and local spots: flounder season, sheepshead season, redfish slot limit, seatrout regulations, mangrove snapper rules, mackerel season, cobia rules, black drum rules, shark rules, and jack crevalle size limit.
