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South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Complex Commercial Regulations
(Updated April 2, 2015)
Snappers
Lane Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Gray Snapper
Mutton Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Red Snapper
Black Snapper
Queen Snapper
Schoolmaster
Blackfin Snapper
Cubera Snapper
Mahogany Snapper
Dog Snapper
Silk Snapper
Groupers
Gag
Scamp
Red Grouper
Black Grouper
Speckled Hind
Snowy Grouper
Warsaw Grouper
Wreckfish
Rock Hind
Graysby
Yellowedge Grouper
Coney
Red Hind
Goliath Grouper
Misty Grouper
Nassau Grouper
Yellowmouth Grouper
Yellowfin Grouper
Porgys
Red
Jolthead
Saucereye
Whitebone
Knobbed
Longspine
Scup
Triggerfish
Gray
Ocean
Jacks
Greater Amberjack
Bar Jack
Almaco Jack
Lesser Amberjack
Banded Rudderfish
Grunts
White Grunt
Margate
Tomtate
Cottonwick
Sailors Choice
Tilefishes
Golden Tilefish
Blueline Tilefish
Sand Tilefish
Spadefishes
Spadefish
Sea Basses
Black Sea Bass
Bank Sea Bass
Rock Sea Bass
Wrasses
Hogfish
NOTE: This listing is published for informational purposes and has no legal force or effect. Fishery regulations are subject to change.
Commercial Trip Limits:
Blueline tilefish:
New! Trip limit is 100-lbs (gw),
effective March 30, 2015
Gag:
Closed Jan 1 - April 30, 2015
Vermilion Snapper:
Trip limit is reduced to 500-lb (gw),
effective March 2, 2015
Greater Amberjack: 1,200 lbs (gw)
Black Sea Bass:
Pot fishery closed through 4/30/15;
Hook & Line open with 300-lb (gw) trip limit
Commercial Closures:
- Golden tilefish (longline component), effective February 19, 2015. Harvest
of golden tilefish by longline will reopen January 1, 2016.
During the commercial golden tilefish longline closure:
- Golden tilefish may still be harvested commercially using hook-and-line gear
(500-lb gw trip limit).
- Vessels with a golden tilefish longline endorsement are not eligible to fish for or
possess golden tilefish using hook-and-line gear.
- The bag/possession limits and the sale/purchase provisions of the commercial
closure apply to a person on board a vessel with a golden tilefish longline
endorsement, regardless of whether the golden tilefish are harvested in state or
Federal waters.
- All harvest or possession of golden tilefish by a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement, and the
sale or purchase of longline-caught golden tilefish is prohibited.
- Shallow water grouper species, effective January 1 through April 30, 2015. The fishery will reopen
Additional Notes:
- Circle hooks are required for the
snapper grouper fishery. The use of
non-stainless steel circle hooks (offset or
non-offset) is required on any commercial
or recreational vessel using hook-and-line
gear with natural baits to fish for snapper
grouper species north of 28 degrees N.
latitude.
- All species in the snapper grouper
complex must be maintained with heads
and fins intact. (Cobia, king mackerel,
Spanish mackerel, dolphin, and wahoo
must also be landed with heads and fins
intact.)
- Goliath and Nassau grouper must be
released by cutting the line and not
removing the fish from the water.
May 1, 2015. This closure is part of the annual spawning season closure and includes the following species:
gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper,
graysby, and coney.
- Red porgy, effective January 1 through April 30, 2015. The fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
- Black sea bass (pot fishery), effective November 1, 2014-April 30, 2015. The pot fishery will
reopen May 1, 2015.
Other Notes:
- Commercial golden tilefish longline
endorsement program in place, effective
May 23, 2013. This measure was put in place
under Amendment 18B. For more information,
visit www.safmc.net.
Black sea bass commercial fishery changes:
- Commercial black sea bass pot fishery
endorsement program in place, effective
July 1, 2012. This measure was put in place
under Amendment 18A. For more information,
visit www.safmc.net.
- Trip Limits - Pot fishery component:
• May - October = 1,000-lbs (gw; 1,180 ww)
• November - April = Fishery is closed
- New fishing year = January 1 - December 31, annually
- Trip Limits - Hook-and-line component:
• January - April = 300-lbs (gw; 354 ww)
• May - December = 1,000-lbs (gw; 1,180 ww)
- Recreational and commercial fishermen
are required to use dehooking tools when
fishing for snapper grouper species.
- After a commercial quota has been met,
- The following species are closed to harvest or possession in federal waters, unless otherwise
all purchase and sale is prohibited, and
specified: red snapper, goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, speckled hind and warsaw grouper.
harvest and/or possession is limited to
the recreational bag limit. This prohibition
- Wreckfish - Only ITQ shareholders or their designees may commercially harvest wreckfish.
does not apply to fish harvested, landed
and sold prior to the quota being met and
held in cold storage by a dealer.
Now Available for Download - SA Fishing Regulations
FREE Federal Fishing Regulations App for the South Atlantic Region!
Available
for iPhone
Available
for Android
Note: Commercial snapper grouper vessels must have onboard NMFS approved sea turtle release gear and follow smalltooth sawfish
release protocol. For more information visit: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/turtle_sawfish_release/index.html
or call 727/824-5312.
Quota monitoring information is available from NOAA Fisheries: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/acl_monitoring/commercial_sa/index.html
For updated information, visit www.safmc.net or call toll free 866/SAFMC-10
See Next Page for SUMMARY TABLE
South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Complex Commercial Regulations
(for commonly targeted species - updated April 2, 2015)
NOTE: Regulations are subject to change. Check www.safmc.net for the latest updates or download the SA Fishing Regulations App.
Common Name
Local Names
Size Limit
Black Grouper*
Blackfin Grouper
24” TL
Black Sea Bass
Sea Bass, Blackfish
11”TL
Blackfin Snapper
Cubera Snapper
Gray Snapper
Gray Triggerfish
Greater Amberjack
Hogfish
Goliath Grouper
Lane Snapper
CLOSED July 10, 2014; Fishery will reopen Jan 1, 2015
12” TL
2 per person (not to exceed 2 per vessel) for fish 30” TL or larger
off East Florida.
None
Charcoal Belly
24” TL
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
Mangrove Snapper
12” TL
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
Triggerfish
12” TL off East Florida
only
Amberjack, A.J.
36” FL; no coring
Hog Snapper
Jewfish,
Giant Seabass
Redtail Snapper,
Candy Snapper
Mahogany Snapper
Mutton Snapper
NEW! Fishing Year is January 1 - December 31 annually; Pot fishery: CLOSED
through Apr 30, 2015; Hook and Line: OPEN; Trip limit=300-lbs (gw) from
Jan 1-Apr 30; 1,000 lbs (gw) from May 1 -Dec 31.
12” TL
Dog Snapper
Gag*
Other Regulations
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
12” TL
Cuban Snapper
Trip Limits
Muttonfish
12” FL
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
1,200 lbs (gw); See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
Closed to possession or harvest
8” TL
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
12” TL
16” TL
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
During May and June, possession limited to 10/person per day or
per trip, whichever is more restrictive.
Closed to possession or harvest
Nassau Grouper
Queen Snapper
12” TL
Red Grouper*
20” TL
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
14” TL
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
Red Porgy
Pink Porgy, Silver Snapper,
Pink Snapper
Red Snapper
Mules, Sow Snapper, Spot
Snapper, American Snapper
Scamp*
Broomtail
Schoolmaster
Silk Snapper
Snowy Grouper
Speckled Hind
Golden, Blueline,
Sand Tilefish
Yelloweye Snapper
Snowflake
Strawberry Grouper, Kitty
Mitchell, Calico Grouper
Golden - Rainbow Tilefish;
Blueline - Gray Tilefish
Vermilion Snapper
Beeliner, Night Snapper
Warsaw Grouper
Jewfish (Miscalled), Grouper
Wreckfish
Yellowfin Grouper*
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
CLOSED TO POSSESSION OR HARVEST,
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 9, 2014.
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
12” TL
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
12” TL
None
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
None
100-lbs (gw)
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
Closed to possession or harvest
All tilefish species reopened Jan 1, 2015; Golden tilefish longline component: CLOSED effective Feb
19, 2015; Hook and line component remains open; No size limit for golden, blueline or sand tilefish; Trip
Limits: Golden tilefish Hook & Line = 500 lbs (gw); Blueline = 100-lbs (gw); sand tilefish = no trip limits
12” TL
500-lbs (gw), effective
March 2, 2015
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
Closed to possession or harvest
Individual Transfer Quota (ITQ) Program in place. Spawning season closure: January 15-April 15.
Fishing Year begins April 16.
Yellowtail Snapper
Yellowmouth Grouper*
20” TL
None
Yellowtail
20” TL
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
12” TL
None
20” TL
See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net
CLOSED, effective January 1 - April 30, 2015;
Fishery will reopen May 1, 2015.
NOTE: This summary is for informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect. Fishery regulations are subject to change.
*Indicates species included in the Annual Shallow-water Grouper Spawning Season Closure January 1 through April 30.