Saucereye Porgy
Calamus calamus
Managed by:
SAFMC
Physical description:
Has a larger eye than the other porgies. Its color is silvery with bluish reflections; the scales golden, forming longitudinal stripes, with pearly-bluish interspaces; the cheeks and snout are purplish, with round brassy spots; the fins are pale, blotched with orange; the iris of the eye is golden.
Biological description:
Found in Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to Brazil.
Recreational Regulations
Recreational Season:
The following regulations apply to Saucereye Porgy in federal waters (3-200 nautical miles) off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.
- Open Season: January 1 - December 31
- Note: since this species is managed under an Annual Catch Limit, the fishery could close if the recreational Annual Catch Limit is met or projected to be met. If an in-season closure were to be announced by NOAA Fisheries, all relevant information will be included here.
Recreational Bag and Size Limits
- Bag Limit: 10 fish per person per day
- 20 Fish Aggregate Bag Limit: 20 fish per person per day
- This means that an angler may harvest or possess a total of 20 fish per person per day, in any combination of species listed below. Note: an angler may retain only 10 fish of any one species.
- Whitebone Porgy (Bag Limit: 10)
- Jolthead Porgy (Bag Limit: 10)
- Knobbed Porgy (Bag Limit: 10)
- Saucereye Porgy (Bag Limit: 10)
- Scup (Bag Limit: 10)
- Gray Triggerfish (Bag Limit: 10)
- Bar Jack (Bag Limit: 10)
- Almaco Jack (Bag Limit: 10)
- Banded Rudderfish (Bag Limit: 10)
- Lesser Amberjack (Bag Limit: 10)
- White Grunt (Bag Limit: 10)
- Margate (Bag Limit: 10)
- Sailor's Choice (Bag Limit: 10)
- Atlantic Spadefish (Bag Limit: 10)
- For example, an angler may retain 10 Gray Triggerfish and 10 White Grunt, or 5 Saucereye Porgy, 5 Lesser Amberjack, 5 Gray Triggerfish, and 5 White Grunt.
- Minimum Size Limit: None
The following species are included in the Porgies Complex:
Allowable gear includes vertical hook-and-line, including hand line and bandit gear, and spearfishing gear without rebreathers.
Dehooking Tool Requirement:
- Recreational and commercial fishermen are required to use dehooking tools when fishing for snapper grouper species.
- At least one dehooking device is required and must be used as needed to remove hooks embedded in South Atlantic snapper-grouper with minimum damage.
- The hook removal device must be constructed to allow the hook to be secured and the barb shielded without re-engaging during the removal process.
- The dehooking end must be blunt, and all edges rounded. The device must be of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery.
Descending Device Requirement:
- Requirement: A descending device is required to be on board and readily available for use on all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species;
- Definition of a Descending Device: an instrument to which is attached a minimum of a 16 ounce weight and a length of line that will release the fish at the depth from which the fish was caught or a minimum of 60 feet.
- The descending device attaches to the fish’s mouth or is a container that will hold the fish. The device MUST be capable of releasing the fish automatically, by the actions of the operator of the device, or by allowing the fish to escape on its own.
- Since minimizing surface time is critical to increasing survival, descending devices shall be readily available for use while engaged in fishing.
Hook Requirements:
All hooks, regardless of type, must be constructed of non-stainless steel.
North of 28º North Latitude:
- The use of Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when
fishing for snapper-grouper species with hook-and-line gear and natural baits north of 28º north latitude. - A circle hook is defined as a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a generally circular, or oval, shape.
South of 28º North Latitude:
- The use of non-stainless steel hooks when fishing for snapper-grouper species with hook-and-line gear and natural baits south of 28º north latitude.
Click here for helpful resources, including:
- best fishing practices tips
- information on hook types
- how-to videos
NOTE: All other recreational gear requirements apply (see other tabs for details).
Permit Requirements
A Federal For-Hire Permit is Required
- Click Here to Learn More
- When harvest of this species closes in federal waters, vessels with a federal charter/for-hire permit cannot retain this species in state or federal waters.
- Beginning January 4, 2021, all vessels with a federal charter/headboat permit for Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper will be required to electronically report their catch. Learn more.
Sea Turtle Release Gear Requirements
- All species must be landed with head and fins intact
- Recreational Bag Limit sales are prohibited
Fish Rules Mobile App
Click here to see some "Frequently Asked Questions."
DOWNLOAD for Android
DOWNLOAD for Apple
Recreational Regulations Summary
Click the image for a summary of regulations for some snapper grouper species
Current Fishery Closures
Click the image for a summary of current fishery closures
Commercial Regulations
Commercial Permit:
- A limited access Snapper Grouper permit is required for this species
- As per the requirements of the permit, commercial fishermen are required to report their catch.
Commercial Season:
The following regulations apply to Saucereye Porgy in federal waters (3-200 nautical miles) off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.
- Open Season: January 1 - December 31
- Note: since this species is managed under an Annual Catch Limit, the fishery could close if the commercial Annual Catch Limit is met or projected to be met. If an in-season closure were to be announced by NOAA Fisheries, all relevant information will be included here.
Commercial Trip and Size Limits
- Trip Limit: None
- Minimum Size Limit: None
Allowable gear includes vertical hook-and-line, including hand line and bandit gear, and spearfishing gear without rebreathers.
Dehooking Tool Requirement:
- Recreational and commercial fishermen are required to use dehooking tools when fishing for snapper grouper species.
- At least one dehooking device is required and must be used as needed to remove hooks embedded in South Atlantic snapper-grouper with minimum damage.
- The hook removal device must be constructed to allow the hook to be secured and the barb shielded without re-engaging during the removal process.
- The dehooking end must be blunt, and all edges rounded. The device must be of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery.
Descending Device Requirement:
- Requirement: A descending device is required to be on board and readily available for use on all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper-grouper species;
- Definition of a Descending Device: an instrument to which is attached a minimum of a 16 ounce weight and a length of line that will release the fish at the depth from which the fish was caught or a minimum of 60 feet.
- The descending device attaches to the fish’s mouth or is a container that will hold the fish. The device MUST be capable of releasing the fish automatically, by the actions of the operator of the device, or by allowing the fish to escape on its own.
- Since minimizing surface time is critical to increasing survival, descending devices shall be readily available for use while engaged in fishing.
Hook Requirements:
All hooks, regardless of type, must be constructed of non-stainless steel.
North of 28º North Latitude:
- The use of Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper-grouper species with hook-and-line gear and natural baits north of 28º north latitude.
- A circle hook is defined as a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a generally circular, or oval, shape.
South of 28º North Latitude:
- The use of non-stainless steel hooks when fishing for snapper-grouper species with hook-and-line gear and natural baits south of 28º north latitude.
Click here for helpful resources, including:
- best fishing practices tips
- information on hook types
- how-to videos
Sea Turtle Release Gear Requirements
Annual Catch Limit
This species is managed under an Annual Catch Limit (ACL).
After the commercial annual catch limit for the Porgies Complex (Jolthead Porgy, Knobbed Porgy, Saucereye Porgy, Whitebone Porgy, Scup) is met, all purchase and sale is prohibited and harvest and/or possession is limited to the recreational bag limit (while recreational harvest is open). This prohibition does not apply to fish harvested, landed, and sold prior to the annual catch limit being reached and held in cold storage by a dealer.
The following species are included in the Porgies Complex:
- All species must be landed with head and fins intact
Fish Rules Mobile App
Click here to see some "Frequently Asked Questions."
DOWNLOAD for Android
DOWNLOAD for Apple
Commercial Regulations Summary
Click the image for a summary of regulations for some snapper grouper species
Current Fishery Closures
Click the image for a summary of current fishery closures