Redfish (Red Drum): Florida Panhandle regulations & tips
Season status · as of Oct 24, 2026
| Waters | Status today | Next 7 days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panhandle Region (state waters) | Open year-round | Open all 7 days | FWC |
Regulations
| Size | Slot: 18"–27" total length |
| Bag limit | 1 per person per day; 4 per vessel (Panhandle Region) |
- Panhandle Region runs from the Alabama line east to near Alligator Point.
- No snatch hooking or spearing; no multiple hooks with natural bait.
- Captain and crew may not keep a bag limit on a for-hire trip.
- Must stay whole until landed ashore.
Sources (checked Oct 24, 2026): FWC: Red Drum (Redfish), Panhandle Region. If anything here disagrees with FWC or NOAA, the official page wins.
When they bite
Open year-round. Fall is a favorite: big 'bull reds' (well over the slot, release them) show up around the passes and beaches.
Where locally
Grass flats and docks in Santa Rosa Sound, Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay, plus passes and the surf.
Spots to try: Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier, Destin: East Pass & the harbor.
Gear basics
- Medium spinning outfit, 10–20 lb braid
- Soft plastics on a jighead, spoons, or live or cut bait
- A single circle hook with natural bait (multiple hooks with natural bait aren't allowed)
- Fluorocarbon leader
Local tip: Over-slot bulls need a quick release. Keep them in the water if you can.
The bite and location notes are general angler know-how, not a fishing report.
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