inshore

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Florida's #1 inshore target. Topwater dawn/dusk, soft plastics on the flats, live shrimp under a popping cork.

Preferred water temp60–85°F

Preferred depth1–15 ft

Peak monthsMar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov

Holds ongrass flats, passes, mangroves, docks, drop-offs

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 9 of 9 regulations

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 15 / angler / day
Minimum: 14″ TL (total length)

15/person/day, 14" TL min.

Georgia DNR Coastal Resources.

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 4 / angler / day
Minimum: 14″ TL (total length)

4/person/day, 14" TL min. Closed annually June 15-Sept 14 in NC waters when proclamation issued (cold-kill recovery).

NC Division of Marine Fisheries — check current proclamations.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 6 / angler / day
Minimum: 15″ TL (total length)

6/person/day, 15" TL min, only 1 fish over 22" per day.

Alabama CNR-MRD.

MS_GULF

Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 15 / angler / day
Minimum: 15″ TL (total length)

15/person/day, 15" TL min.

Mississippi DMR.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 15 / angler / day
Minimum: 13″ TL (total length)

15/person/day, 13" TL min. (Lake Pontchartrain area may have local rules — verify.)

Louisiana DWF.

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Slot: 15″–19″ TL (total length)

Slot 15-19". 1 over allowed per vessel. NW zone (Escambia–Hernando) bag is 5. Verify your county.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Slot: 15″–19″ TL (total length)

Slot limit 15-19 inches. 1 fish per vessel may exceed 19 inches. Recreational vessel limit 6.

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 5 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 10 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 14″ TL (total length)

5/person/day, 10/vessel max, 14" TL min.

South Carolina DNR.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 3 / angler / day
Slot: 15″–20″ TL (total length)

Slot 15-20" TL, 3/person/day. (Texas reduced from 5 to 3 in 2024 to rebuild stocks; verify current TPWD rules.)

Texas Parks & Wildlife.