Dolphinfish in Florida
Florida dolphinfish: limits, records and waters.
- 81 lbrecord
Photo: (c) Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0
Dolphinfish fishing in Florida
Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) is managed by FWC as a saltwater species. The Florida record dolphinfish weighed 81 pounds (Lantana, 2007).
FWC on dolphinfish
Where dolphinfish live
“Offshore in warm waters.”
“Young live in floating sargassum weed.”
Dolphinfish behavior
“Fast swimmers and one of the fastest-growing fish, though to live no more than 5 years.”
“Spawns in warm oceanic currents throughout much of the year.”
“Diet includes flying fish and squid.”
Seasons for dolphinfish
“Spawns in warm oceanic currents throughout much of the year.”
Quoted from the FWC species profile.
Florida dolphinfish limits
| Where | Bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf state waters | 10 a day | none | Open year round |
| Atlantic state waters | 5 a day | 20 in minimum | Open year round |
No minimum size. 10 per person or 60 per vessel, whichever is less. Captain and crew prohibited from retaining a bag limit.
Private recreational: 5 per person or 30 per vessel, whichever is less. For-hire: 5 per person, vessel limit = customers fishing x bag limit.
FWC saltwater regulations, checked October 2026. All Florida limits.
Florida record dolphinfish
| Category | Weight (lb) | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| All tackle | 81 | Lantana | 2007 |
| Fly | 51.5 | Islamorada | 2001 |
| Youth | 4.8 | Islamorada | 2026 |
FWC freshwater state records and Catch a Florida Memory saltwater records. Angler names left out.
Reef counties for dolphinfish
Reef-rich counties for dolphinfish.
- Bay County615 reef deployments
- Escambia County496 reef deployments
- Okaloosa County488 reef deployments
- Pinellas County367 reef deployments
- Miami-Dade County277 reef deployments
- Sarasota County261 reef deployments
- Volusia County191 reef deployments
- Palm Beach County154 reef deployments
- Lee County136 reef deployments
- Broward County128 reef deployments
- Collier County121 reef deployments
- Martin County121 reef deployments
- Duval County107 reef deployments
- Manatee County106 reef deployments
- St. Lucie County92 reef deployments
Other Florida saltwater fish
Questions about dolphinfish in Florida
How many dolphinfish can I keep in Florida?
10 a day (Gulf state waters), size: none.
What is the Florida state record dolphinfish?
It went 81 pounds, set in 2007.
What lakes have dolphinfish?
See the bays and reef counties listed for dolphinfish above.
Has Florida stocked dolphinfish?
FWC reports show no dolphinfish stocking lately.
What is the Big Catch minimum for dolphinfish?
No Big Catch size is listed for dolphinfish.
What is the Latin name for dolphinfish?
Coryphaena hippurus.
Do I need a license to catch dolphinfish?
Anglers 16 and up need a saltwater license unless exempt.
Does dolphinfish season ever close?
FWC lists no closure for dolphinfish.
Who sets the dolphinfish rules?
FWC species profiles, regulations, state records and stocking reports.