Fishing Regulations List

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is an advocate for responsible fishing and responsible fisheries management.  Catch and release can be a valuable conservation tool to help ensure healthy fisheries for the future. Our mission is to ensure healthy fisheries through research, education, and advocating responsible management. We have compiled a list of bonefish, tarpon, and permit regulations by state and country in which there are active fisheries.  The list below provides a unique view of the state of management of bonefish, tarpon, and permit.  If your state or country does not have responsible management plans in place, please contact your local Department of Fisheries to request that regulations be changed.

If you have information on the missing countries, please let us know by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

United States

Tarpon

Alabama: Minimum size 60" total length (TL), $50 tag required for each harvested fish

Florida: $50 tag required for each harvested fish, special regulations for Boca Grande pass, No commercial sale

Georgia: Open season 3/16 - 11/30, minimum size  68" fork length (FL), allowable harvest of 1 per person per day

Louisiana: Not Regulated

Mississippi: Not Regulated

North Carolina: Allowable harvest of 1 per person per day, No minimum size

South Carolina: Allowable harvest of 1 per person per day, No minimum size

Texas: Minimum size 85" TL, Allowable harvest of 1 per person per day

Permit

Florida: Size range of 11" - 20" FL, 1 permitted over 20" as part of 6 aggregate harvest of permit and pompano, Commercially sold

Bonefish

Florida: Catch and release only.

Bahamas

Bonefish: No limit (Catch & Release "strongly encouraged")

Belize

Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit: Catch & Release Only

Mexico

Aggregate 10 saltwater species limit, No minimum size

Tarpon: 2 per person per day within aggregate limit, No minimum size

Bonefish: 5 per person per day within aggregate limit, No minimum size

Permit: 5 per person per day within aggregate limit, No minimum size

Puerto Rico

Tarpon, Bonefish: Catch & Release Only

Permit: Not regulated

USVI

Tarpon, Bonefish: Catch & Release Only

Permit: Not Regulated