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Fishing regulations at Molasses Reef Channel, FL
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Florida can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Common dolphinfish
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish legally possessed aboard any vessel.
Fork Length means the length of a fish as measured from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail.
Effective May 2nd 2022, the recreational vessel limit for dolphin is 54 fish (excluding headboats). The 10 dolphin per person per day recreational bag limit will remain unchanged for all recreational vessels (private, charter vessels, and headboats). See Fishery Bulletin Must be landed with head and fins intact.
Minimum size limit only applies in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
If you are bringing fish back to the U.S. from the Bahamas by water, please see Bringing fish back from the Bahamas.
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Federally Permitted Charter/Headboats: -If a federally permitted vessel fishing in federal waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in federal waters, the vessel is not allowed to retain that fish. -If a federally permitted vessel fishing in state waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in federal waters but open in state waters, the vessel is not allowed to retain that species. -If a federally permitted vessel fishing in federal waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in state waters but open to harvest in federal waters, they may retain that fish if they do not stop to fish in state waters when returning to port. All gear must be stowed.
For more information on management of South Atlantic federal fisheries, please visit SAFMC or NOAA Fisheries.
Great barracuda
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of trophy individuals legally harvested per harvester per day. A trophy is any individual of a length greater than the max size limit. Trophy individuals are included in the daily bag limit unless stated otherwise.
The maximum number of individual fish legally possessed aboard any vessel.
Fork Length means the length of a fish as measured from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail.
These regulations apply in state and federal waters from Martin County to Collier County (Including Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties).
Slot Limit: 15-36" fork length with 1 fish greater than 36" per person or vessel per day
Daily Bag Limit: 2 fish per person, 6 per vessel
No closed season.
Yellowtail snapper
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Reef Fish Gear
Allowable gear includes vertical hook-and-line, including hand line and bandit gear, and spearfishing gear without rebreathers. When fishing for or possessing snapper grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply: (1) Use of a dehooking tool is required. (2) The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper grouper species using hook-and-line gear with natural baits. (3) A descending device is required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line). See below for more details.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
Descending Device
A descending device is required on board all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper and grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic. The descending device must be readily available for use and attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line.
A descending device is required on board all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper and grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic. The descending device must be readily available for use and attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line. Get more information at Best Fishing Practices Webpage Must be landed with head and fins intact.
If you are bringing fish back to the U.S. from the Bahamas by water, please see Bringing fish back from the Bahamas.
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Federally Permitted Charter/Headboats:
- If a federally permitted vessel fishing in federal waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in federal waters, the vessel is not allowed to retain that fish.
- If a federally permitted vessel fishing in state waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in federal waters but open in state waters, the vessel is not allowed to retain that species.
- If a federally permitted vessel fishing in federal waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in state waters but open to harvest in federal waters, they may retain that fish if they do not stop to fish in state waters when returning to port. All gear must be stowed.
Federally Permitted Charter/Headboats must have the following on board:
- The 2019 version of the NMFS document titled "Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release with Minimal Injury" (document may be electronic).
- NMFS sea turtle handling and release guidelines placard
- Required release and handling gears
See Snapper Grouper Sea Turtle and Smalltooth Sawfish Release Gear Requirements for more information.
For more information on the management of South Atlantic federal fisheries, please visit SAFMC or NOAA Fisheries.
To see commercial regulations, download Fish Rules Commercial App for iOS devices or Android devices.
FAQ about Molasses Reef Channel fishing
- Common dolphinfish - 63 members reported to have caught this fish
- Great barracuda - 50 members reported to have caught this fish
- Yellowtail snapper - 29 members reported to have caught this fish
- @seanmonterrey reported a nice Sand tilefish.
- @letsbiologize reported a nice Hogfish.
- @dextercassell reported a nice Common dolphinfish.
- @letsbiologize reported a nice Bar jack.
- @rhatfield reported a nice Bull shark.
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