Where to Check Florida Fishing and Hunting Seasons, Closures, and Rule Changes on FWC

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) publishes season dates, closures, and proposed rule changes on myfwc.com, organized by activity rather than in a single calendar. To find what you need, start from the Recreational or Commercial section for fishing and hunting rules, use the WMA Open/Closed Status page for land access, and use the 2027-2028 Proposed Rule Change Hunting Survey page when you want to comment on pending rules. The site's own homepage highlights current items such as the 2026 Recreational Atlantic Red Snapper Season, Gulf County and Pasco Zones Scallop Closures, and WMA closures and updates.

How FWC organizes season and closure information

The homepage presents information in activity-based sections rather than one master schedule:

• Recreational — recreational fishing and hunting seasons, bag limits, and related notices
• Commercial — commercial fishing and hunting rules, which are separate from recreational rules
• Wildlife — species and habitat information
• Wildlife Alert — reporting channel for violations and wildlife issues

Because recreational and commercial rules sit in different sections, check the section that matches your license or activity. A recreational season notice does not automatically describe commercial seasons, and the reverse is also true.

Checking current seasons and closures

The homepage surfaces time-sensitive items directly, which makes it a useful first stop:

For scallop closures in particular, note that the closure is tied to named zones (Gulf County and Pasco Zones), so you need to confirm which zone your intended location falls in before assuming a season is open.

Finding WMA open/closed status

The WMA Open/Closed Status page is the dedicated tool for land access. According to the site, it lets you "find the open/closed status of FWC managed areas, offices, and facilities." Use it before traveling to a wildlife management area, since closures can affect hunting access independently of statewide season dates. A season being open does not guarantee a specific WMA is open.

Proposed rule changes and public comment

FWC provides an online commenting tool for pending hunting rules. The homepage references a 2027-2028 Proposed Rule Change Hunting Survey that lets you "provide your input on a package of proposed hunting rule changes." If you want to influence rules before they take effect, this is the channel — proposed changes are published for comment rather than appearing only as final rules.

Where to start for licenses, permits, and boating

The "How Can We Help You?" area links to Licenses & Permits, Boating, Hunting, Saltwater Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Habitat & Species Conservation, Research, and Law Enforcement/Report a Violation. Boating safety information is also featured on the homepage. If your question is about whether you are allowed to fish or hunt at all, begin with Licenses & Permits; if it is about where and when, begin with the relevant fishing or hunting section plus the WMA status page.

Practical order of checks

1. Confirm the activity type (recreational vs. commercial) and open the matching section.
2. Check the homepage for current season notices and area-specific closures.
3. Verify land access on the WMA Open/Closed Status page.
4. Review proposed rule changes and submit comments if a pending rule affects you.
5. Confirm licensing or permitting requirements before heading out.

One limitation to keep in mind: the homepage excerpt shows featured items rather than a complete list, so a season or closure not displayed there may still be in effect. Treat the activity sections and the WMA status page as the authoritative lookups, and the homepage as a pointer to what is currently being emphasized.