Fla. Admin. Code R. 68B-17.003 (2026)
Size Limit; Sorting Requirement; Size Tolerance
(1) Size Limit – A person may not harvest or land from Florida Waters or possess in or on Florida Waters a hard clam that is less than 1 inch in thickness across the hinge.
(2) Sorting Requirement – A person harvesting hard clams shall sort the hard clams immediately after they are taken.
(a) Immediately after sorting, a person harvesting hard clams shall return alive to the place where taken each hard clam that is less than 1 inch in thickness across the hinge.
(b) The person(s) aboard a vessel in or on Florida Waters may not collectively possess more than 1 bushel of unsorted hard clams.
(c) A person may not possess unsorted hard clams aboard a vessel that is under power.
(3) Size Tolerance – A person may possess undersize hard clams if, by count of the hard clams in any individual bag, package, or container, 3% or less of the hard clams are undersize.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 1-1-85, Formerly 46-17.03, Amended 3-15-87, 11-1-89, 4-11-94, 11-27-96, Formerly 46-17.003, Amended 9-1-13.
Effective: 9/1/2013.