Redfish in the Sarasota Bay region are open year-round under a 18–27 inch total-length slot, one fish per person per day, and a two-fish vessel limit. Bull redfish over 27 inches are spawning stock and must be released alive — every fish approaching 30 inches has left the bay to join the nearshore breeding schools. The rules are set by the FWC on the red drum regulations page.
What is the redfish slot limit in Florida?
Florida’s redfish slot limits vary by region. The Sarasota Bay Region — from State Road 64 in Bradenton south to 27°04.727’ N near the Venice airport — holds the 18–27 inch slot. South of that line (Charlotte Harbor and Southwest regions), the slot stays the same. North of SR 64 (Tampa Bay region) the slot also stays 18–27 inches. Verify the FWC red drum page before you fish; executive orders after red tide or cold snaps can change rules.
Measure total length with the fish’s mouth closed and tail lobes squeezed together on a flat board. A fish at 17.9 inches or 27.1 inches is not a keeper; officers carry certified boards.
What are the Sarasota-region redfish rules for 2026?
| Rule | 2026 value |
|---|---|
| Slot limit | 18–27” total length |
| Bag limit | 1 per person per day |
| Vessel limit | 2 per vessel per day |
| Off-the-water transport | 4 fish per person |
| Season | Open year-round |
| Gear | Hook and line, or cast net |
| Prohibited | Spearing, snatch-hooking, multiple hooks with natural bait |
| For-hire | Captain and crew keep zero bag limit; no commercial harvest |
| License | Saltwater license (free for Florida residents, shore-based) |
These rules apply across the Sarasota Bay Region, which runs from State Road 64 in Bradenton south to 27°04.727′ N near the Venice airport. Rules change by latitude in Florida — Charlotte Harbor (south of Venice) uses the same slot but is a separate management unit; Tampa Bay (north of SR 64) uses the same slot but manages its own stock. A fish caught at Siesta Key follows Sarasota rules; a fish caught 5 miles south at Stump Pass follows Charlotte Harbor rules. The FWC split is strict by the fish’s location, not the angler’s ramp.
Redfish harvest reopened in the Sarasota Bay Region after the post-2018 red tide closure years. Local guides often release every fish on principle — there is no tournament advantage to filling a two-fish cooler limit.
Can you keep a bull redfish?
No. Redfish under 30 inches are bay fish — juveniles living inside the estuary for their first three to five years, feeding on crabs and shrimp on the flats. Around 30 inches and roughly four years old, a redfish matures and leaves the bay permanently, joining the nearshore spawning schools. Every fish over the 27-inch slot line is breeding stock.
The practical read: redfish 27–30 inches and up have already left or are leaving the bay. A 28-inch fish is slot-legal by the numbers — yes, keep it — but a 31-inch fish is a bull and spawning; release it in the water. They live 40 years and more, and the oldest documented fish are over 60.
Handle summer and fall bull reds fast. Most redfish over 30 inches are spawning bulls, and release mortality climbs with every second of air exposure. Support the belly, keep the fish in the water during photos, and follow the full catch-and-release best practices.
Is redfish season open year-round?
Yes. Redfish harvest is open in the Sarasota Bay Region every month. There is no closure — the fishery has been open year-round since reopening after the 2018 red tide.
April through August is a slot-fish and shoreline game inside the bay; September through November is when over-slot schools stage at the passes and bars (Bulkhead, Long Bar, Beer Can Island) before spawning, with pods of 50–200 fish pushing water and nervous bait overhead. December through February they re-form on the negative low tides, tails in the air on the Palma Sola and Bulkhead flats.
FAQ
What size redfish can you keep in Florida? In Sarasota Bay Region: 18–27 inches total length. Everything under 18 inches and everything over 27 inches goes back.
How many redfish per person in the Sarasota zone? One fish per person per day, maximum 2 per vessel. A four-fish off-the-water transport limit per person applies for moving fish to another location.
Are bull redfish legal to keep? No. Bull redfish are fish over 27 inches — spawning stock that have left the bay. They must be released alive in the water.
Do redfish rules differ by region in Florida? Yes. The Sarasota Bay Region slot is 18–27 inches. North of State Road 64 (Tampa Bay) the slot is the same; south of Venice (Charlotte Harbor and Southwest) the slot is the same, but they are separate management units with their own stock data. Always verify the FWC red drum page for your water before you fish.
Are redfish good to eat? Yes — firm, white, mild meat. The fish must stay whole until landed ashore, so fillet at the dock, not on the water.
Related
The redfish species page covers spots, months, baits, and the full Sarasota pattern at redfish. Focus on fall runs and find Charlotte Harbor redfish staging areas on the Charlotte Harbor redfish page. Get legal first with the Florida fishing license guide, learn the system behind slot limits in the FWC regulations explainer, and plan your calendar with the Gulf seasons calendar.
