Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-14.0035 - Size Limits: Amberjacks, Black Sea Bass, Gray Triggerfish, Grouper, Hogfish, Red Porgy, Snapper

No person shall land, possess, unnecessarily destroy, purchase, exchange, sell or offer for sale any of the following species harvested in or from state waters, of a length less than set forth as follows:

(1) Amberjacks (measured in terms of fork length).

(a) Almaco jack harvested commercially from the Atlantic Ocean 20 inches.

(b) Banded rudderfish no less than 14 inches, no greater than 22 inches.

(c)

1. Greater amberjack harvested recreationally from the Atlantic Ocean 28 inches.

2. Greater amberjack harvested recreationally from the Gulf of Mexico 34 inches consistent with the Federal Standards established in 50 C.F.R. §622.37(c)(4) as of January 4, 2016.

3. Greater amberjack harvested from the Gulf of Mexico commercially 36 inches.

4. Greater amberjack harvested commercially from the Atlantic Ocean 34 inches.

(d) Lesser amberjack no less than 14 inches, no greater than 22 inches.

(2)

(a) Black sea bass harvested in the Gulf of Mexico 10 inches total length.

(b) Black sea bass harvested recreationally in the Atlantic Ocean13 inches total length.

(c) Black sea bass harvested commercially in the Atlantic Ocean 11 inches total length.

(3) Gray triggerfish.

(a) Except as provided in Rule 68B-7.003, F.A.C., for harvest from Biscayne National Park, Gray triggerfish harvested in the Atlantic Ocean 12 inches fork length.

(b)

1. Gray triggerfish harvested commercially in the Gulf of Mexico 14 inches fork length (consistent with Federal Standard established in 50 C.F.R. §622.37(c)(1)(i) as of January 16, 2018).

2. Gray triggerfish harvested recreationally in the Gulf of Mexico 15 inches fork length (consistent with Federal Standard established in 50 C.F.R. §622.37(c)(1)(ii) as of January 16, 2018).

(4) Grouper (measured in terms of total length), except as provided in Rule 68B-7.003, F.A.C., for harvest from Biscayne National Park.

(a) Black grouper 24 inches.

(b) Gag grouper 24 inches.

(c) Goliath grouper no less than 24 inches, no greater than 36 inches.

(d)

1. Red grouper harvested recreationally statewide and commercially from the Atlantic Ocean 20 inches.

2. Red grouper harvested commercially from the Gulf of Mexico 18 inches.

(e)

1. Scamp harvested from the Atlantic Ocean and all waters of Monroe County 20 inches.

2. Scamp harvested from the Gulf of Mexico except from all waters of Monroe County 16 inches.

(f) Yellowfin grouper 20 inches.

(g) Yellowmouth grouper 20 inches.

(5)

(a) Hogfish harvested from all waters of the Atlantic Ocean and south of 25°09' North Latitude in the Gulf of Mexico 16 inches fork length (consistent with the Federal Standard established in 50 C.F.R. §622.185(c)(3)(ii) as of August 24, 2017).

(b) Hogfish harvested north of 25°09' North Latitude in the Gulf of Mexico 14 inches fork length (consistent with the Federal Standard established in 50 C.F.R. §622.37(c)(2) as of August 24, 2017).

(6) Red porgy harvested in waters of the Atlantic Ocean 14 inches total length.

(7) Snapper (measured in terms of total length), except as provided in Rule 68B-7.003, F.A.C., for harvest from Biscayne National Park.

(a) Cubera snapper 12 inches.

(b) Dog snapper 12 inches within or without Florida waters.

(c)

1. Gray (mangrove) snapper harvested recreationally 10 inches.

2. Gray (mangrove) snapper harvested commercially 12 inches.

(d) Lane snapper 8 inches.

(e) Mahogany snapper 12 inches within or without Florida waters.

(f) Mutton snapper 18 inches.

(g) Red snapper harvested from the Atlantic Ocean 20 inches.

(h)

1. Red snapper harvested recreationally from the Gulf of Mexico 16 inches.

2. Red snapper harvested commercially from the Gulf of Mexico 13 inches.

(i) Schoolmaster 10 inches within or without Florida waters.

(j) Vermilion snapper harvested in the Gulf of Mexico 10 inches.

(k) Vermilion snapper harvested from the Atlantic Ocean 12 inches.

(l) Yellowtail snapper 12 inches.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-14.0035

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

New 12-31-98, Amended 3-1-99, Formerly 46-14.0035, Amended 1-1-00, 1-1-01, 1-1-01, 1-1-03, 9-16-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-07, 4-1-08, 1-6-09, 8-27-09, 3-23-12, 6-10-13, Amended by Florida Register Volume 41, Number 135, July 14, 2015 effective 7/9/2015, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 007, January 12, 2016 effective 1/4/2016, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 106, June 1, 2016 effective 6/1/2016, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 125, June 28, 2016 effective 7/1/2016, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 213, November 1, 2016 effective 11/17/2016, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 188, September 27, 2016 effective 1/1/2017, Amended by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 163, August 22, 2017 effective 8/24/2017, Amended by Florida Register Volume 44, Number 015, January 23, 2018 effective 1/16/2018, Amended by Florida Register Volume 44, Number 143, July 24, 2018 effective 7/23/2018, Amended by Florida Register Volume 45, Number 001, January 2, 2019 effective 1/15/2019, Amended by Florida Register Volume 45, Number 113, June 11, 2019 effective 7/1/2019, Amended by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 068, April 7, 2020 effective 7/1/2020, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 076, April 19, 2022 effective 7/1/2022, Amended by Florida Register Volume 49, Number 217, November 7, 2023 effective 10/26/2023.

New 12-31-98, Amended 3-1-99, Formerly 46-14.0035, Amended 1-1-00, 1-1-01, 1-1-01, 1-1-03, 9-16-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-07, 4-1-08, 1-6-09, 8-27-09, 3-23-12, 6-10-13, 7-9-15, 1-4-16, 6-1-16, 7-1-16, 11-17-16, 1-1-17, 8-24-17, 1-16-18, 7-23-18, 1-15-19, 7-1-19, 7-1-20, 7-1-22, 10-26-23.