Sheepshead size and bag limits by state
The East Coast sheepshead rulebook, north to south. Managed under the individual state rules, with no interstate or federal plan. Core fishery: Chesapeake Bay to Florida, around oyster bars, seawalls and pilings. Rules on file here for 6 states, Maryland to Florida.
- MDMaryland
- Size
- 12" minimum
- Bag
- 4 fish per angler per day
- Season
- Open year-round
- VAVirginia
- Size
- No minimum size
- Bag
- 4 fish per person
- Season
- No closed season listed
- NCNorth Carolina
- Size
- 14" minimum total length
- Bag
- 5 fish per person per day
- Season
- No closed season listed
- SCSouth Carolina
- Size
- 14" minimum total length
- Bag
- 10 fish per person per day
- Season
- No closed season listed
- GAGeorgia
- Size
- 10" minimum fork length
- Bag
- 15 fish per person per day
- Season
- Open year-round
- FLFlorida (Atlantic)
- Size
- 12" minimum total length
- Bag
- 8 fish per person per day
- Season
- Open year-round
Status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season, and the agency page controls. A state missing from this list is one we have not verified yet. It may still have a rule.
The trap on this fish
Sheepshead are managed state by state, so the numbers change at every line: no minimum in Virginia, 10 inches fork length in Georgia, 12 inches in Maryland and Florida, 14 inches total length in the Carolinas. Check whether your state measures fork length or total length.
Federal waters
Sheepshead have no ASMFC or federal council plan and no federal-water regulations. Florida states that its sheepshead rules also apply in federal waters off Florida. FWC · sheepshead ↗
Other species
Striped bassSummer flounderBlack sea bassBluefishRed drumTautogScupSpotted seatroutWeakfishBlack drumCobiaSpanish mackerel