Florida Gulf · Tampa Bay
Tripletail: size limit, bag limit & season
Checked against FWC · July 1, 2026
In Florida's Gulf waters, including Tampa Bay, a tripletail must be at least 18 inches (total length) to keep. The bag limit is 2 per harvester. Season: Open year-round.
The rules
| Size limit | 18" minimum (total length) |
|---|---|
| Bag limit | 2 per harvester |
| Season | Open year-round |
| Rules & notes | Hook and line only. No snatch hooks. |
Not legal advice. These are Florida's Gulf-zone limits (Tampa Bay region where FWC sets regional rules), checked against FWC on July 1, 2026. Limits change by region, gear and date — confirm on MyFWC.com before you keep a fish.
When tripletail are most active
Tripletail are most active around the Gulf Coast in April–June and September–October.
Tripletail are most active in roughly 70–85°F water (a typical range; they're caught outside it too).
Check it on the water
Log a tripletail in Newbreeds and the size check compares your length against these limits — keeper or release — with a link to FWC to confirm. Every catch also records the tide, pressure trend, water temperature and moon automatically, so over time you see which conditions your tripletail actually bite in. Logging is free.
Get Newbreeds — free All Florida Gulf limits
Questions
What is the size limit for tripletail in Florida?
In Florida's Gulf waters, including Tampa Bay, a tripletail must be at least 18 inches (total length) to keep. Hook and line only. No snatch hooks.
How many tripletail can I keep in Florida?
The Gulf-zone bag limit is 2 per harvester.
When is tripletail season in Florida?
Tripletail are open year-round in Florida's Gulf waters.
When is the best time to catch tripletail around Tampa Bay?
Tripletail are most active around the Gulf Coast in April–June and September–October.
What water temperature do tripletail like?
Tripletail are most active in roughly 70–85°F water (a typical range; they're caught outside it too).