On Oct. 1, the Apalachicola Bay wild oyster harvest season will open for endorsed commercial and permitted recreational harvesters and continue through Feb. 28, 2027.
During this season, authorized Apalachicola Bay harvesters will be allowed to harvest at three reef sites, NWFW Cat Point, Cat Point Spur and Peanut Ridge, with a total seasonal harvest limit of 2,560 bags.
For recreational harvest, a 2026/27 Apalachicola Bay Recreational Opportunity Permit is required. Permitted recreational harvest is limited to one bag tag for a specific reef identified on the harvest bag tag; harvest is only authorized from the reef identified on the bag tag. One bag is equal to two 5-gallon buckets, one 10-gallon bucket, or 60 pounds.
Harvest of oysters is permitted only by hand or by tong with a minimum size limit of three inches. The possession of any dredge or mechanical harvesting device other than ordinary hand tongs above any public reef is prohibited.
For coordinates of available reefs open to oyster harvest this season, visit MyFWC.Com/Marine and select "Recreational Regulations" followed by "Oysters and Clams" and select "Oysters Apalachicola Bay."
For more information on commercial oyster harvest regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and select "Commercial Regulations," then select "Oysters" under "Regulations by species – crabs, shrimp and shellfish."
For more information on recreational oyster harvest regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and select "Recreational Regulations," then select "Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish" followed by "Oysters and Clams."