by Denise Wauters
Anglers fishing the Gulf waters around Everglades City and the Ten Thousand Islands have a new set of lane snapper regulations to know before they head out this season.
Starting April 1, 2026, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is implementing updated recreational rules for lane snapper in Gulf state waters. The changes are designed to reduce the risk of overfishing and bring state regulations in line with current and pending federal guidelines.
The new rules apply to both recreational and commercial fishing and include two specific changes. The minimum size limit increases from 8 inches to 10 inches total length, and a recreational bag limit of 20 fish per person per day is now in effect. Previously, no bag limit existed for lane snapper in Gulf state waters.
The FWC approved these modifications last November following a review of the fishery’s long-term health. Lane snapper are a common catch in the nearshore and backcountry waters of Southwest Florida, including the Ten Thousand Islands, so local anglers will want to make sure they’re up to date before heading out.
For the full current regulations on lane snapper and other reef fish species, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and navigate to Recreational Regulations, then Reef Fish, then Snapper.
If you have questions, the FWC Press Office can be reached at 850-488-4676 or Media@MyFWC.com.
You may also be interested in the March Fishing Report or Recreational Harvest of Snook for Florida’s West Coast Closed May 1.
