All size limits in this section are minimum size limits unless specified otherwise. A fish not in compliance with its size limit, as specified in this section, in or from the Gulf EEZ, may not be possessed, sold, or purchased. A fish not in compliance with its size limit must be released immediately with a minimum of harm. The operator of a vessel that fishes in the EEZ is responsible for ensuring that fish on board are in compliance with the size limits specified in this section. See §622.10 regarding requirements for landing fish intact.

(a) Snapper—(1) Red snapper—16 inches (40.6 cm), TL, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(3) and 13 inches (33.0 cm), TL, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit. See §622.23(a)(1) regarding the minimum size limit for states with an active delegation of state management of the red snapper private angling component. A person subject to the private angling component bag limit under an active delegation of state management must be in compliance with the fishing license (permit) requirements of the state in which they intend to land the fish and may not possess red snapper in the Gulf EEZ that are smaller than may be possessed in that state. Additionally, fish taken by persons subject to the private angling component bag limit under state management may not be less than 14 inches (35.6 cm), TL, in the Gulf EEZ.

(2) Lane snapper—8 inches (20.3 cm), TL.

(3) Vermilion snapper—10 inches (25.4 cm), TL.

(4) Cubera, gray, and yellowtail snappers—12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.

(5) Mutton snapper—18 inches (45.7 cm), TL.

(b) Grouper—(1) Gag—24 inches (61.0 cm), TL.

(2) Red grouper—(i) For a person not subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38 (b)(2)—18 inches (45.7 cm), TL.

(ii) For a person subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(2)—20 inches (50.8 cm), TL.

(3) Scamp—16 inches (40.6 cm), TL.

(4) Yellowfin grouper—20 inches (50.8 cm), TL.

(5) Black grouper—(i) For a person not subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(2)—24 inches (61.0 cm), TL.

(ii) For a person subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(2)—24 inches (61.0 cm), TL.

(c) Other Gulf reef fish species—(1) Gray triggerfish.

(i) For a person not subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(5)—14 inches (35.6 cm), fork length.

(ii) For a person subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(5)—15 inches (38.1 cm), fork length.

(2) Hogfish in the Gulf EEZ except south of 25°09′ N. lat. off the west coast of Florida—14 inches (40.6 cm), fork length. See §622.185(c)(3)(ii) for the hogfish size limit in the Gulf EEZ south of 25°09′ N. lat. off the west coast of Florida.

(3) Banded rudderfish and lesser amberjack—14 inches (35.6 cm), fork length (minimum size); 22 inches (55.9 cm), fork length (maximum size).

(4) Greater amberjack—34 inches (86.4 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in §622.38(b)(1) and 36 inches (91.4 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit.

(d) A person aboard a vessel that has a Federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish and commercial quantities of Gulf reef fish, i.e., Gulf reef fish in excess of applicable bag/possession limits, may not possess any Gulf reef fish that do not comply with the applicable commercial minimum size limit.

[78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 80 FR 75436, Dec. 2, 2015; 81 FR 24040, Apr. 25, 2016; 82 FR 34581, July 25, 2017; 82 FR 59526, Dec. 15, 2017; 83 FR 29044, June 22, 2018; 85 FR 6824, Feb. 6, 2020]