The Keys have more spearfishing restrictions than anywhere else in Florida, and most of them are about where you dive rather than what you shoot. Read this once, then check the current FWC and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary rules before each trip.
Licenses
You need a Florida saltwater fishing license to spearfish unless you are fishing from a licensed charter vessel that covers you, or you fall under an exemption. Lobster requires the license plus a lobster permit. Nonresident short-term licenses are easy to buy online before you fly in.
Where spearfishing is prohibited
Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are closed to spearfishing, along with state and national park waters. There are also blanket distance rules.
- Within 100 yards of a public swimming beach
- Within 100 yards of any commercial or public fishing pier or bridge catwalk
- In Monroe County, within 100 yards of any part of a bridge with a catwalk
- Inside John Pennekamp, Dry Tortugas and other park boundaries
Protected and off-limits species
Some species may never be taken by spear in Florida: billfish, spotted eagle ray, sturgeon, manta ray, tarpon, snook, bonefish, permit in Special Permit Zones, tripletail, red drum, weakfish, spotted seatrout, families of ornamental reef fish, and all sharks. Goliath grouper and Nassau grouper are fully protected. Bag and size limits apply to everything else.
Lobster specifics
Carapace must exceed 3 inches, measured in the water. Egg-bearing females must be released. Mini-season is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July, with reduced Monroe County bag limits, and no spearing of lobster is allowed — hands, nets and snares only.
Etiquette that keeps access open
Shoot selectively, take only what you will eat, stay off spawning aggregations, and be respectful around snorkel and dive boats. The Keys spearfishing community's access depends on how the public sees us.
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KEEP READING
- Best Spearfishing Spots in the Lower Keys
Where to spearfish around Key West: patch reefs, the Western Dry Rocks area, wrecks, and Gulf-side ledges — with depths, species and access notes.
- Key West Spearfishing Season Calendar
Month-by-month guide to what you can legally and realistically spear around Key West, including grouper seasons, lobster dates and hogfish limits.
- Spearfishing Gear Guide for the Florida Keys
Exactly what gear works in Key West water: gun length, wetsuit thickness, floats, weighting and the safety kit you should not dive without.