Title 50

SECTION 622.185

622.185 Size limits.

§ 622.185 Size limits.

All size limits in this section are minimum size limits unless specified otherwise. A fish not in compliance with its size limit, as specified in this section, in or from the South Atlantic EEZ, may not be possessed, sold, or purchased. A fish not in compliance with its size limit must be released immediately with a minimum of harm. The operator of a vessel that fishes in the EEZ is responsible for ensuring that fish on board are in compliance with the size limits specified in this section.

(a) Snapper - (1) [Reserved]

(2) Vermilion snapper - 12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.

(3) Cubera, gray, and yellowtail snappers - 12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.

(4) Mutton snapper - 18 inches (45.7 cm), TL.

(5) Lane snapper - 8 inches (20.3 cm), TL.

(b) Grouper - (1) Red, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper; and scamp - 20 inches (50.8 cm), TL.

(2) Black grouper and gag - 24 inches (61.0 cm), TL.

(c) Other snapper-grouper species - (1) Black sea bass.

(i) For a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.187(b)(7) - 13 inches (33 cm), TL.

(ii) For a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.187(b)(7) - 11 inches (28 cm), TL.

(2) Gray triggerfish - 12 inches (30.5 cm), FL.

(3) Hogfish. (i) In the South Atlantic EEZ off Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina - 17 inches (43.2 cm), fork length.

(ii) In the South Atlantic EEZ off the Florida Keys and east coast of Florida, and in the Gulf EEZ south of 25°09′ N. lat. off the west coast of Florida - 16 inches (40.6 cm), fork length.

(4) Red porgy - 14 inches (35.6 cm), TL.

(5) Greater amberjack - 28 inches (71.1 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.187(b)(1) and 36 inches (91.4 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit.

(6) Almaco jack. For a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.187(b)(8) - 20 inches (50.8 cm), FL.

[78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 78 FR 44465, July 24, 2013; 80 FR 30952, June 1, 2015; 81 FR 32253, May 23, 2016; 82 FR 34594, July 25, 2017; 83 FR 1309, Jan. 11, 2018; 85 FR 4594, Jan. 27, 2020; 85 FR 11309, Feb. 27, 2020]