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Additional Rules
Two-Day Bag Limit
Persons on qualifi ed charter vessels or headboats with two captains for trips in excess
of 24 hours may possess a 2-day bag limit of reef fi sh, king mackerel, and Spanish
mackerel. One-day bag limits apply to all other species and trips, regardless of length.
Head & Fins Attached All fi sh, except for bait and oceanic migratory species, taken from federal waters must
have heads and fi ns intact through landing. Up to 1.5 pounds of fi nfi sh per person is
exempt from this rule for personal consumption, provided the vessel is equipped to
cook such fi nfi sh.
For-Hire Captains and
Crew
For-hire captains and crew are prohibited from retaining bag limits of any grouper, red
snapper, or greater amberjack while under charter.
Federally Permitted
For-Hire Reef Fish
Vessels
Federally permitted for-hire reef fi sh vessels must comply with the more restrictive of
federal or state reef fi sh regulations when fi shing for reef fi sh in state waters.
Reef Fish as Bait
The use of federally managed reef fi sh as bait is prohibited.
Non-Stainless Steel
Circle Hooks
Vessels participating in the reef fi sh fi shery must possess dehooking devices and use
non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural baits.
Gear
Reef fi sh gear is limited to no more than 3 hooks in a special management zone off
of Alabama. Nonconforming gear is restricted to bag limit. For reef fi sh without a bag
limit, nonconforming gear is restricted to 5% by weight of all fi sh onboard.
Stressed Areas
Use of roller trawls and power heads is prohibited in designated stressed areas.
Stressed areas for reef fi sh begin at the shoreward boundary of federal waters and
generally follow the 10 fathom contour from the Dry Tortugas to Sanibel Island; the
20 fathom contour to Tarpon Springs; the 10 fathom contour to Cape San Blas; the
25 fathom contour to south of Mobile Bay; the 13 fathom contour to Ship Island,
Mississippi; the 10 fathom contour off Louisiana; and the 30 fathom contour off Texas.
Sale of Recreationally
Caught Reef Fish
Reef fi sh taken under the recreational bag limit may not be sold.
Care and Release of
Incidental Catch of
Smalltooth Sawfi sh
and Sea Turtles
Operators of vessels with Gulf of Mexico reef fi sh commercial or charter vessel/headboat permits must comply with guidelines for proper care and release of incidentally
caught smalltooth sawfi sh and sea turtles and must possess onboard specifi c gear to
ensure proper release of such species.
395
Additional Rules
Two-Day Bag Limit
Persons on qualifi ed charter vessels or headboats with two captains for trips in excess
of 24 hours may possess a 2-day bag limit of reef fi sh, king mackerel, and Spanish
mackerel. One-day bag limits apply to all other species and trips, regardless of length.
Head & Fins Attached All fi sh, except for bait and oceanic migratory species, taken from federal waters must
have heads and fi ns intact through landing. Up to 1.5 pounds of fi nfi sh per person is
exempt from this rule for personal consumption, provided the vessel is equipped to
cook such fi nfi sh.
For-Hire Captains and
Crew
For-hire captains and crew are prohibited from retaining bag limits of any grouper, red
snapper, or greater amberjack while under charter.
Federally Permitted
For-Hire Reef Fish
Vessels
Federally permitted for-hire reef fi sh vessels must comply with the more restrictive of
federal or state reef fi sh regulations when fi shing for reef fi sh in state waters.
Reef Fish as Bait
The use of federally managed reef fi sh as bait is prohibited.
Non-Stainless Steel
Circle Hooks
Vessels participating in the reef fi sh fi shery must possess dehooking devices and use
non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural baits.
Gear
Reef fi sh gear is limited to no more than 3 hooks in a special management zone off
of Alabama. Nonconforming gear is restricted to bag limit. For reef fi sh without a bag
limit, nonconforming gear is restricted to 5% by weight of all fi sh onboard.
Stressed Areas
Use of roller trawls and power heads is prohibited in designated stressed areas.
Stressed areas for reef fi sh begin at the shoreward boundary of federal waters and
generally follow the 10 fathom contour from the Dry Tortugas to Sanibel Island; the
20 fathom contour to Tarpon Springs; the 10 fathom contour to Cape San Blas; the
25 fathom contour to south of Mobile Bay; the 13 fathom contour to Ship Island,
Mississippi; the 10 fathom contour off Louisiana; and the 30 fathom contour off Texas.
Sale of Recreationally
Caught Reef Fish
Reef fi sh taken under the recreational bag limit may not be sold.
Care and Release of
Incidental Catch of
Smalltooth Sawfi sh
and Sea Turtles
Operators of vessels with Gulf of Mexico reef fi sh commercial or charter vessel/headboat permits must comply with guidelines for proper care and release of incidentally
caught smalltooth sawfi sh and sea turtles and must possess onboard specifi c gear to
ensure proper release of such species.
395