Listed below are species commonly found in federal waters of the South Atlantic. Many are managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and others are managed jointly with other Fishery Management Councils and Commissions or state fishery management agencies.
Click on the common name of each species to read a species profile that includes illustrations, biological characteristics, current regulations and/or contact information regarding the regulatory agency responsible for its management.
Click on the common name of each species to read a species profile that includes illustrations, biological characteristics, current regulations and/or contact information regarding the regulatory agency responsible for its management.
Click here to see a list of all of the species included in the Snapper Grouper Complex.
Common Name |
Species Name |
Managing Agency(s) |
Harvest Status |
|
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Almaco Jack | Seriola rivoliana | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Atlantic Spadefish | Chaetodipterus faber | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Banded Rudderfish | Seriola zonata | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Bank Sea Bass | Centropristis ocyurus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Bar Jack | Caranx ruber | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Blackfin Snappper | Lutjanus buccanella | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Black Grouper | Mycteroperca bonaci | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Black Sea Bass | Centropristis striata | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Blueline Tilefish | Caulolatilus microps | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - CLOSED |
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Cobia (FL Only) | Rachycentron canadum | SAFMC , GMFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Coney | Epinephelus fulvus | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Cottonwick | Haemulon melanurum | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Cubera Snapper | Lutjanus cyanopterus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Dolphin Fish | Coryphaena hippurus | SAFMC , GMFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Gag Grouper | Mycteroperca microlepis | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Golden Crab | Chaceon fenneri | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN |
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Golden Tilefish | Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps | SAFMC | Commercial - Longline Component: OPEN - Hook & Line Component: OPENRecreational - OPEN |
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Goliath Grouper | Epinephelus itajara | SAFMC | NO HARVEST ALLOWED |
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Graysby | Epinephelus cruentatus | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Gray Snapper | Lutjanus griseus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Gray Triggerfish | Balistes capriscus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Greater Amberjack | Seriola dumerili | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Hogfish | Lachnolaimus maximus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN (FL) - OPEN (GA-NC)Recreational - CLOSED (FL) - OPEN (GA-NC) |
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Jolthead Porgy | Calamus bajonado | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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King Mackerel | Scomberomorus cavalla | SAFMC, GMFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Knobbed Porgy | Calamus nodosus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Lane Snapper | Lutjanus synagris | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Lesser Amberjack | Seriola fasciata | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Longspine Porgy | Stenotomus caprinus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Margate | Haemulon album | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Misty grouper | Hyporthodus mystacinus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Mutton Snapper | Lutjanus analis | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Nassau Grouper | Epinephelus striatus | SAFMC | NO HARVEST ALLOWED |
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Ocean Triggerfish | Canthidermis sufflamen | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Penaeid Shrimp | Litopenaeus setiferus, Farfantepenaeus duorarum, Farfantepenaeus aztecus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN |
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Queen Snapper | Etelis oculatus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Red Grouper | Epinephelus morio | SAFMC | Commercial -
CLOSED (FL & GA) Recreational - |
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Red Hind | Epinephelus guttatus | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Red Porgy | Pagrus pagrus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Red Snapper | Lutjanus campechanus | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Rock Hind | Epinephelus adscensionis | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Rock Sea Bass | Centropristis philadelphica | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Rock Shrimp | Sicyonia brevirostris | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN |
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Sailors Choice | Haemulon parra | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Sand tilefish | Malacanthus plumieri | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Saucereye Porgy | Calamus calamus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Scamp | Mycteroperca phenax | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Scup | Stenotomus chrysops | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Silk Snapper | Lutjanus vivanus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Snowy grouper | Hyporthodus niveatus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - CLOSED |
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Spanish Mackerel | Scomberomorus maculatus | SAFMC | Commercial - Northern Zone (NC-NY): CLOSED - Southern Zone: OPENRecreational - OPEN |
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Speckled Hind | Epinephelus drummondhayi | SAFMC | NO HARVEST ALLOWED |
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Spiny Lobster | Panulirus argus | SAFMC, GMFMC | Commercial - OPEN in E. FL - OPEN in GA, SC, & NCRecreational - OPEN in E. FL - OPEN in GA, SC, & NC |
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Tomtate | Haemulon aurolineatum | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Vermilion Snapper | Rhomboplites aurorubens | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Wahoo | Acanthocybium solanderi | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Warsaw grouper | Hyporthodus nigritus | SAFMC | NO HARVEST ALLOWED |
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Whitebone Porgy | Calamus leucosteus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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White Grunt | Haemulon plumierii | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Wreckfish | Polyprion americanus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - CLOSED |
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Yellowedge Grouper | Hyporthodus flavolimbatus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |
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Yellowfin grouper | Mycteroperca venenosa | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Yellowmouth Grouper | Mycteroperca interstilitialis | SAFMC | Commercial - CLOSED Recreational - CLOSED |
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Yellowtail Snapper | Ocyrus chrysurus | SAFMC | Commercial - OPEN Recreational - OPEN |