Snapper Grouper Amendment 9

Implemented Regulations

• Increased the red porgy min size limit from 12″ TL to 14″ TL for com and rec fishermen, established a rec bag limit of 5 f/p/d, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during March and April, and prohibit purchase and sale during March and April.
• Black Sea Bass: increased the BSB min size limit from 8″ TL to 10″ TL for both rec and com fishermen, established a rec bag limit of 20 bsb/p/d, required escape vents and escape panels with degradable fasteners in BSB pots.
• Greater Amberjack: reduced the GAJ rec bag limit from 3 to 1 GAJ/p/d, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during Apr throughout the EEZ, established a 1,00lb daily com trip limit, established a quota at 63% of 1995 landings (1,169,931 pounds), begin the fishing yr on May 1, prohibit the sale of fish harvested under the bag limit when the season is closed, prohibited coring.
• Increased the recreational vermilion snapper minimum size from 10″ TL to 11″ TL.
• Increase the gag minimum size from 20″ TL to 24″ TL for both rec and com, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during March and April, and prohibit sale during March and April.
• Increase the black grouper minimum size from 20″ TL to 24″ TL for both rec and com, prohibit harvest and possession in excess of the bag limit during March and April and prohibit purchase and sale during Mar and April.
• Specified that within the 5-fish aggregate grouper bag limit (which included tilefish and excludes goliath and Nassau grouper), no more than 2 fish may be gag or black grouper (individually or in combo).
• Estbalished an aggregate rec bag limit of 20-fish inclusive of all snapper grouper species currently not under a bag limit, excluding tomtate and blue runners (there will be no bag limit for tomtate and blue runners).
• Specified that vessels with longline gear aboard may only possess snowy grouper, warsaw grouper, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, golden tilefish, blueline tilefish, and sand tilefish.