South Atlantic Fishery Management Council South Atlantic Snapper Complex Recreational Regulations (Updated May 25, 2016)

List of in the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Complex: Snappers Porgys Jacks Grunts Sea Basses Rock Hind Red Greater Amberjack White Grunt Black Sea Bass Yellowtail Snapper Silk Snapper Graysby Jolthead Bar Jack Margate Bank Sea Bass Gray Snapper Coney Saucereye Almaco Jack Tomtate Rock Sea Bass Mutton Snapper Red Hind Whitebone Lesser Amberjack Cottonwick Vermilion Snapper Gag Goliath Grouper Knobbed Banded Rudderfish Sailors Choice Red Snapper Scamp Misty Grouper Longspine Black Snapper Red Grouper Nassau Grouper Scup Tilefishes Spadefishes Queen Snapper Black Grouper Yellowedge Grouper Golden Tilefish Spadefish Schoolmaster Speckled Hind Yellowmouth Grouper Triggerfish Blueline Tilefish Blackfin Snapper Snowy Grouper Yellowfin Grouper Gray Sand Tilefish Wrasses Warsaw Grouper Ocean Hogfish Mahogany Snapper Wreckfish NOTE: Regulations subject to change. This summary is for informational purposes only and has no legal force or effect. For complete updates , check www.safmc.net, download the free SA Fishing Regulations mobile app, or call toll free 866/SAFMC-10 Red snapper, CLOSED effective July 26, 2014. Red snapper will remain closed to harvest or possession in federal waters in 2016. Wreckfish, CLOSED,The recreational season is open July 1 - August 31 annually. Goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, speckled hind, and warsaw grouper - CLOSED to harvest or possession in federal waters. Aggregate Grouper Bag Limit: three (3) groupers per person/day includes: gag*, black*, snowy**, misty, red, scamp, yellowedge, yellowfin, yellowmouth, blueline tilefish****, sand tilefish, golden tilefish***, coney, graysby, red hind & rock hind. *Maximum of 1 gag or black grouper (but not both) per person/day Note: All species in the **snowy grouper limited to 1 per VESSEL per day (May through August only; closed Sept - Apr) snapper grouper complex ***Maximum of 1 golden tilefish per person per day must be maintained with ****Maximum of 1 blueline tilefish per VESSEL per day (May through August only; closed Sept-Apr) heads and fins intact. (Cobia, king mackerel, Spanish In addition, fishermen may retain: mackerel, dolphin, and 1 amberjack per person/day (in April, for-hire/charter vessels limited to 1 per person/day or 1 per person/trip) wahoo must also be landed 5 hogfish per person/day, off the coast of East Florida with heads and fins intact.) 3 red porgy per person/day or 3 per/person/trip, whichever is more restrictive Goliath and Nassau grouper 5 vermilion snapper per person/day must be released by cutting Aggregate Snapper Bag Limit: Ten (10) snapper (excluding vermilion snapper) per the line and not removing the person/day with the following exceptions: fish from the water. The red snapper fishery is closed to both commercial and recreational harvest. Maximum of 2 cubera per • The sale of bag-limit person (not to exceed 2 per/vessel) for fish 30” Total Length (TL) or larger off Florida. These are not included in caught snapper the 10 snapper bag limit. Cubera less than 30” TL are included in the 10 fish bag limit. grouper species is prohibited. Other Snapper Grouper Complex Species: 20 Fish Aggregate Bag Limit • Recreational and There is an aggregate bag limit of 20 fish per person inclusive of all fish in the snapper grouper complex currently commercial fishermen not under a bag limit, excluding tomtate and blue runner. This means you may catch your bag limits and additionally are required to use retain up to 20 other fish for which there is no bag limit. dehooking tools when fishing for snapper grouper species.

• The use of non- stainless steel circle hooks (offset or non-offset) is required for all species in the For-hire vessels fishing for snapper grouper species and possessing a federal for-hire snapper grouper Note: complex when using permit must have onboard NMFS approved sea turtle release gear and follow release protocols. hook-and-line gear For more information, call 727-824-5312 or visit: with natural baits in http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/turtle_sawfish_release/index.html waters north of 28 Quota monitoring information for the recreational annual catch limits is available from NOAA Fisheries: degrees N. latitude. http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/acl_monitoring/recreational_sa/index.html

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See Next Page for SUMMARY TABLE of Commonly Caught Species South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Complex Recreational Regulations NOTE: Regulations are subject to change. Updates are in red as of May 25, 2016 Check www.safmc.net for the latest updates or download the SA Fishing Regulations App as noted on the front of this summary. Common Name Local Names Size Limit Daily Bag Limits Other Regulations

Blackfin Grouper 24 TL Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; Maximum Black Grouper* ” of 1 gag or black grouper (but not both) per person/day 5 per person/day See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Black Sea Bass Sea Bass, Blackfish 13” TL Fishing year is April 1 - March 31 annually Included in 10 snapper See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Blackfin Snapper 12” TL per person limit 2 per person (not to exceed 2 per vessel) for fish 30” TL or larger Cubera Snapper Cuban Snapper 12” TL off East Florida. See “Retention Limits”. 12” TL Included in 10 snapper See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Dog Snapper per person limit Charcoal Belly Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; Maximum of Gag* 24” TL 1 gag or black grouper (but not both) per person/day Included in 10 snapper See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Gray Snapper 12” TL per person limit www.safmc.net Gray Triggerfish Triggerfish Effective July 1, 2015 - new size limits: 14” FL off East Florida; 12” FL off NC, SC, GA Included in 20 fish snapper grouper aggregate; See “allowable gear” at 1 per person/day (In April, for- See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Greater Amberjack Amberjack, A.J. 28” FL; no coring hire/charter vessels limited to 1 per person/day or 1/per person/trip.) Hog Snapper OPEN; Minimum size limit = 12” FL; Daily bag limit of 5 fish off east Florida; Hogfish no bag limit elsewhere Jewfish, Goliath Grouper Giant Seabass Closed to possession or harvest Included in 10 snapper Redtail Snapper, See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Lane Snapper Candy Snapper 8” TL per person/day Included in 10 snapper See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Mahogany Snapper 12” TL per person/day Included in 10 snapper Muttonfish See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Mutton Snapper 16” TL per person/day Nassau Grouper Closed to possession or harvest 12” TL Included in 10 snapper See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Queen Snapper per person/day Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit Red Grouper* 20” TL Pink Porgy, Silver Snapper 3 per person/day 14” TL (or 3 per person/trip, whichever is See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Red Porgy Pink Snapper more restrictive) Mules, Sow Snapper, Spot Red Snapper Snapper, American Snapper Closed to posession or harvest 20” TL Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit Scamp* Broomtail Included in 10 snapper 12” TL See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Silk Snapper Yelloweye Snapper per person/day None Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit; Only 1 Snowy Grouper Snowflake fish per VESSEL per day (May - August only)_ Strawberry Grouper, Kitty Speckled Hind Mitchell, Calico Grouper Closed to possession or harvest Golden, Blueline and Golden - Rainbow Tilefish; Sand tilefish - OPEN None Golden tilefish - OPEN Sand Tilefish Blueline - Gray Tilefish IncludedBlueline intilefish 3 grouper - 1 fish bag per limit; VESSEL per day (May-August only) Vermilion Snapper 5 per person/day See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Beeliner, Night Snapper 12” TL (in addition to the snapper bag limit) Warsaw Grouper Jewfish (Miscalled), Grouper Closed to possession or harvest Wreckfish None 1 per vessel per day CLOSED; Season Open July 1 - August 31 Yellowedge Grouper Included in 3 grouper None per person/day See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Yellowfin Grouper* Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit Included in 3 grouper per person/day grouper bag limit; 20” TL See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net Yellowtail Snapper Yellowtail 12” TL Included in 10 snapper See “allowable gear” at www.safmc.net per person/day Yellowmouth Grouper* 20” TL Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit * Annual January 1 to April 30 Shallow Water Grouper Spawning Season Closure includes: gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, and yellowmouth grouper.