7
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
“REEF FISH” REGULATIONS
Species designated as “Reef Fish” are also designated as Restricted
Species. An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS) endorsement is required
to sell any species designated as “Reef Fish”. A Federal Permit is also
required to harvest in commercial quantities and sell “Reef Fish” species
other than bank, black, or rock sea bass and red porgy harvested in the
Gulf. No “Reef Fish” may be sold by or purchased from persons who do
not hold the required state and federal permits.
Allowable gear for the harvest of “Reef Fish” is limited to hook and
line gear, black sea bass traps, and spearing. Possession of “Reef
Fish” harvested as incidental bycatch while targeting other species or
with gear not allowed for the harvest of “Reef Fish” is limited to the
recreational bag limit. Incidental bycatch of red porgy harvested in the
Atlantic during the closed season is limited to one fish and may not be
sold. Possession of a recreational and a commercial bag limit of
all reef fish species on the same trip is prohibited.
If at any time adjacent federal waters are closed to commercial harvest
of a “Reef Fish” species, corresponding state waters are also closed to
the harvest of that species. During any such closure, the purchase and
sale of that species harvested from the closed area is prohibited.
Species designated as “Reef Fish”:
Groupers
Jacks
Snappers
Other
Black Grouper
Snowy Grouper
Greater Amberjack
Black Snapper
Queen Snapper
Hogfish
Coney Grouper
Tiger Grouper
Banded Rudderfish
Blackfin Snapper
Red Snapper
Red Porgy
Gag
Yellowedge Grouper
Lesser Amberjack
Cubera Snapper
Schoolmaster
Gray Triggerfish
Graysby
Yellowfin Grouper
Almaco Jack
Dog Snapper
Silk Snapper
Golden Tilefish
Misty Grouper
Yellowmouth Grouper
Gray (Mangrove) Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Red Grouper
Bank Sea Bass *
Lane Snapper
Wenchman Snapper
Red Hind
Black Sea Bass*
Mahogany Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Rock Hind
Rock Sea Bass*
Mutton Snapper
Scamp
*Harvest of bank, black, and rock sea bass is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
NOTE: This summary is for informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect. Fishery regulations are subject to change.
State Waters
Florida
Federal Waters
Gulf of Mexico
Federal Waters
South Atlantic
Red
2 per person per day
Atlantic: 20” TL
Gulf: 13” TL
13” TL
The Commercial red snapper fishery is
managed under an Individual Fishing
Quota (IFQ) system.
See: www.safmc.net
Vermilion
Gulf: 10” TL
Atlantic: 12” TL
10” TL
12” TL
See: www.safmc.net
Lane
8” TL
8” TL
8” TL
Gray (Mangrove)
12” TL
12” TL
12” TL
Mutton
16” TL
May and June: 10 per person per day or
10 per trip (whichever is more restrictive)
16” TL
16” TL
May and June: possession limited to 10
per person per day or per trip (whichever
is more restrictive)
Yellowtail / Dog / Mahogany
12” TL
12” TL
12” TL
Schoolmaster
10” TL
12” TL
12” TL
Blackfin / Silk / Queen
12” TL
12” TL
Black / Wenchman
Cubera
12” TL
2 per person (not to exceed 2 per boat)
for fish 30” TL or larger
12” TL
12” TL
2 per person (not to exceed 2 per
vessel) for fish 30’ TL or larger off East
coast of Florida
Reef fish as Bait
All fish must be landed in whole condition; legal-sized whole fish may be used
as bait but counted against bag limit.
Only sand perch & dwarf sand perch may
be used for bait.
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.)
Commercial vessels are prohibited from retaining reef fish caught under the recreational size and bag/possession limits
when commercial quantities of Gulf reef fish are on board.
Federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels must comply with
themore restrictive of federal or state reef fish regulations when
fishing for reef fish in state waters.
SNAPPERS
22
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
“REEF FISH” REGULATIONS
Species designated as “Reef Fish” are also designated as Restricted
Species. An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS) endorsement is required
to sell any species designated as “Reef Fish”. A Federal Permit is also
required to harvest in commercial quantities and sell “Reef Fish” species
other than bank, black, or rock sea bass and red porgy harvested in the
Gulf. No “Reef Fish” may be sold by or purchased from persons who do
not hold the required state and federal permits.
Allowable gear for the harvest of “Reef Fish” is limited to hook and
line gear, black sea bass traps, and spearing. Possession of “Reef
Fish” harvested as incidental bycatch while targeting other species or
with gear not allowed for the harvest of “Reef Fish” is limited to the
recreational bag limit. Incidental bycatch of red porgy harvested in the
Atlantic during the closed season is limited to one fish and may not be
sold. Possession of a recreational and a commercial bag limit of
all reef fish species on the same trip is prohibited.
If at any time adjacent federal waters are closed to commercial harvest
of a “Reef Fish” species, corresponding state waters are also closed to
the harvest of that species. During any such closure, the purchase and
sale of that species harvested from the closed area is prohibited.
Species designated as “Reef Fish”:
Groupers
Jacks
Snappers
Other
Black Grouper
Snowy Grouper
Greater Amberjack
Black Snapper
Queen Snapper
Hogfish
Coney Grouper
Tiger Grouper
Banded Rudderfish
Blackfin Snapper
Red Snapper
Red Porgy
Gag
Yellowedge Grouper
Lesser Amberjack
Cubera Snapper
Schoolmaster
Gray Triggerfish
Graysby
Yellowfin Grouper
Almaco Jack
Dog Snapper
Silk Snapper
Golden Tilefish
Misty Grouper
Yellowmouth Grouper
Gray (Mangrove) Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Red Grouper
Bank Sea Bass *
Lane Snapper
Wenchman Snapper
Red Hind
Black Sea Bass*
Mahogany Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Rock Hind
Rock Sea Bass*
Mutton Snapper
Scamp
*Harvest of bank, black, and rock sea bass is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
NOTE: This summary is for informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect. Fishery regulations are subject to change.
State Waters
Florida
Federal Waters
Gulf of Mexico
Federal Waters
South Atlantic
Red
2 per person per day
Atlantic: 20” TL
Gulf: 13” TL
13” TL
The Commercial red snapper fishery is
managed under an Individual Fishing
Quota (IFQ) system.
See: www.safmc.net
Vermilion
Gulf: 10” TL
Atlantic: 12” TL
10” TL
12” TL
See: www.safmc.net
Lane
8” TL
8” TL
8” TL
Gray (Mangrove)
12” TL
12” TL
12” TL
Mutton
16” TL
May and June: 10 per person per day or
10 per trip (whichever is more restrictive)
16” TL
16” TL
May and June: possession limited to 10
per person per day or per trip (whichever
is more restrictive)
Yellowtail / Dog / Mahogany
12” TL
12” TL
12” TL
Schoolmaster
10” TL
12” TL
12” TL
Blackfin / Silk / Queen
12” TL
12” TL
Black / Wenchman
Cubera
12” TL
2 per person (not to exceed 2 per boat)
for fish 30” TL or larger
12” TL
12” TL
2 per person (not to exceed 2 per
vessel) for fish 30’ TL or larger off East
coast of Florida
Reef fish as Bait
All fish must be landed in whole condition; legal-sized whole fish may be used
as bait but counted against bag limit.
Only sand perch & dwarf sand perch may
be used for bait.
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.)
Commercial vessels are prohibited from retaining reef fish caught under the recreational size and bag/possession limits
when commercial quantities of Gulf reef fish are on board.
Federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels must comply with
themore restrictive of federal or state reef fish regulations when
fishing for reef fish in state waters.
SNAPPERS
22