Legal Grouper

Monroe County: Several species of Atlantic groupers (red, black, yellow-mouthed, yellow-mouthed, scamp, rock behind, back red, red hindquarter, coney, and gray) are closed from January 1 to April 30 in all Atlantic state and federal waters, including all state waters off Monroe County (Atlantic and Gulf side). During this closure, fishermen will be able to catch groupers in open federal waters of the Gulf and return to Monroe County Harbour by navigating in the enclosed waters of the Atlantic, provided the vessel goes directly to port without stopping to fish. Fishing for South Atlantic snapper in the experimental area shall be prohibited and no person shall keep South Atlantic snapper groupers inside or outside the area. Any South Atlantic snapper grouper caught accidentally with a fishhook and fishing gear must be released immediately by cutting the line without removing the fish from the water. The St. Lucie Hump MPA is bounded on the north by 27°08′ N. lat.; to the south, at 27°04′ N. lat.; on the east to 79°58′ W long.; and west of longitude 80°00′ W. Location: 9 nautical miles southeast of St.

Lucie Inlet, FL. Size: 4 x 2 nautical miles. No fishing or possession of snapper groupers. No shark longline equipment is allowed. Vessels can cross MPAs with snapper groupers on board with properly stowed fishing gear. Trolling of pelagic species such as tuna, dolphin, mackerel and platypus is permitted in the MPA. Several species of golf groupers (red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth) are closed offshore from February 1 to March 31 during the 20-thread break. Recreational anglers are encouraged to use electronic mapping devices to draw the 20-fathom break by entering the coordinates shown on the map below into a route. Grouper fishing in the Florida Keys and Key West is open to recreational anglers from May 1 to December 31. Note that there are some species of groupers that are open all year round.

However, the most common grouper species targeted by Keys anglers are black grouper, gag grouper and red grouper. The open season from May 1 to December 31 applies to these three groupers. * The zero baggage limit for the captain and crew of rental vessels only applies to black and red gag groupers. The use of longlines to fish for snapper groupers south of 27°10′ N. lat. (just east of the entrance to St. Lucia Inlet, Florida) is prohibited; or north of 27°10′ N. lat., where the mapped depth is less than 50 fathoms (91.4 m), as shown on the latest edition of the site`s largest NOAA map. Person on board a vessel with on board a longline fishing on a voyage in the South Atlantic EEZ south of 27°10′ N. lat.

or north of 27°10′ N. lat. if the mapped depth is less than 50 fathoms (91.4 m), this voyage is limited to the pocket limit for South Atlantic snapper groupers for which a pocket limit is set and to zero for all other South Atlantic snapper groupers. A vessel shall carry a longline if there is on board a motorized longline tug, a cable or monofilament of diameter and length suitable for longline fishing and gangways on board. The removal of one of these three elements represents the removal of a longline. Description of equipment: Permitted equipment includes vertical phishing and fishing equipment, including handline and bandit equipment, and spearfishing equipment without a recycler. The following rules shall apply to the capture or keeping of snapper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic: (1) The use of a hooking tool is required. (2) The use of stainless steel hooks is required when using line and hook equipment with natural baits. In waters north of 28°N latitude, the use of unstaggered circular hooks made of stainless steel is required for fishing for snapper groupers with hooking and line equipment using natural bait.

(3) A lowering device is required on board all ships and must be readily accessible (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line). See below for more information. There is a total daily baggage limit per angler for groupers in the Florida Keys and Key West. Florida Keys anglers are allowed to keep up to three groupers per person when fishing in the waters of the Florida Keys and Key West. Note, however, that only one black or gagged grouper can be kept per person per day. This black or gag is one of the three max groupers. Scamp is a grouper that stretches from North Carolina south to northern South America, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Juvenile scamps have been reported, but are rare, as far away as Massachusetts. Scamp is gray-brown in color with darker spots grouped together.

The corners of the mouth may appear yellow. The pectoral fins have a dark inner margin. The caudal fin is concave with the rays of the upper and lower fins, which are elongated in adult fish, and appears more jagged than other grouper tails. The shape and color of the scamp are very similar to that of the yellowmouth grouper.1 Summer is fast approaching, which means grouper season has arrived. Grouper fishing in the Florida Keys and Key West is subject to Atlantic grouper fishing regulations under the Florida Wildlife Regulations. (d) Seasonal closure of the recreational shallow grouper sector. The leisure area for SWG, inside or outside the Gulf EEZ, is closed annually from February 1 to March 31, in the part of the Gulf EEZ connecting the points shown in the table below. During the closure, the pocket and property boundary for SWG inside or outside the Gulf EEZ off subsequent rhumb lines is zero. Area 51 SMZ is bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following points in order:32° 35.250` N 79° 28.600` W32° 35.250` N 79° 27.000` W32° 33.750` N 79° 27.000` W32° 33.750` N 79° 28.600` WFa captivity, possession and storage of snapper groupers are prohibited in the breeding SMA. The harvesting and possession of other species such as dolphins, mackerel and tuna would be permitted, as required by other regulations. Fishermen can sail with snapper groupers on board their boat if their gear is stowed in accordance with regulations. Properly stowed: The terminal (e.g., hook, guide, lead, turn signal or bait) must be separated and stowed separately from the automatic roller, bandit equipment, buoy equipment, handline or rod and reel.

The rod and reel must be removed from the rod holder and safely stowed on or below deck. The longline can be left on the drum if all gangions and hooks are separated and stowed under the deck. Hooks cannot be baited. All buoys must be disconnected from the craft, but buoys may remain on deck. An experimental trawl or net may remain on deck, but the trawl doors must be disconnected from the net and secured. Note: These regulations may vary depending on protected areas of very high concern and habitat areas. A gill net, knife net or trammel net should be left on the drum.