Black Drum (also known as Drum, Puppy Drum, Bull Drum) in Florida. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the FWC guide, 2026.
In Florida, the minimum legal size for Black Drum is 14 in and the daily bag limit is 5 per person (may include one fish over 24 in). A slot limit applies: Harvest slot 14–24 in (one fish over 24 in may be kept per person/day). There is no closed season in FL.
Harvest slot 14–24 in (one fish over 24 in may be kept per person/day).
No closed season
Same regulation on both Gulf and Atlantic coasts. STATE waters (Gulf and Atlantic), same regulation both coasts. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park.
These limits are pulled from the FWC recreational saltwater size and bag limits. Last verified June 2026.
Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.
Florida requires a recreational saltwater fishing licence to take saltwater species (residents can get a no-cost Resident Saltwater Shoreline licence for shore fishing). A snook or tarpon permit is needed for those species. Florida saltwater licences.
Olli-Mikael Vaittinen has fished his whole life. Fifteen years of fly fishing, guiding seasons on Norway's Lakselva — his favourite Atlantic salmon river — and a blue marlin landed in Vava'u, Tonga. Founder of Fishare — the app that puts the data behind the decisions every angler makes on the water.
Fishare tracks your home spots and pings you when the next 3-hour peak window opens. Log catches and blanks to teach the model your local patterns. Free forever for everyone who joins now.
Open Fishare