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Keys Grouper Regulations Are Confusing
by Douglas Gregory
University of Florida/Monroe County Cooperative Extension
New Gulf of Mexico federal regulations for grouper have increased the public
's confusion over what they can catch and how big it has to be.Below, I will try to clarify the various recreational size and bag limits and commercial fishing seasons for grouper that affect fishermen in the Keys.
Size limits. The confusion over size limits mainly concerns those for black grouper and gag. In Atlantic federal waters the size for black grouper and gag were increased from 20 to 24 inches total length in 1999 for all fishermen. The State of Florida implemented the same size requirements for all state waters in the Atlantic and for Gulf state waters in the Keys. Remember that Gulf state waters extend out 9 nautical miles from the shoreline. In 2000 the size limit for black grouper and gag increased in Gulf federal waters from 20 to 22 inches for recreational fishermen and to 24 inches for commercial fishermen.
While these size increases may seem large will definitely reduce catches in the first few years, it's effect should be relatively short-lived. These fish grow about 4 inches a year and by within a couple of years we should be catching more of these larger size fish.
Other groupers, such as red, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth are still managed with a 20 inch size limit.
The primary reason for the increase in minimum size for black grouper and gag was to reduce fishing mortality on juvenile fish. Gag do not become reproductively mature until about 24 inches total length and black grouper do not mature until about 28 inches total length. Establishment of size limits designed to minimize juvenile mortality is the foundation of a sustainable fisheries policy. If juvenile fish are subject to direct fishing pressure then overall regulations must be much more stringent to protect the reproductive potential of a fished population.
Recreational Bag Limits. Recreational fishermen are limited to 5 groupers per person. In Atlantic federal waters and all state waters in the Keys, no more than 2 of these groupers can be black or gag combined, whereas in Gulf federal waters any number of the 5 fish can be black or gag. A more consistent limit of 1 fish per vessel per species applies to warsaw and speckled hind in all state and federal waters.
Commercial Closed Seasons. In 1999, a commercial fishing closed season for black grouper and gag was established in Atlantic waters during the months of March and April. . Beginning this year the Gulf of Mexico waters are governed with a commercial closed season of February 15 through March 15. During these closed season no one can possess more than the recreational bag limit and the sale of the bag limit catch also is prohibited.
Additional information on seafood safety, buying, or preparation of seafood is available from the University of Florida/Monroe County Extension Service, 5100 College Road, Stock Island or call at 292-4501; fax = 292-4415; email = Monroe@mail.ifas.ufl.edu . Our services are free and available to all without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.
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