Regulations for offshore bottomfish species are complex and include several closed seasons and several seasons that close when the annual allocation is caught.
Red snapper fishing was allowed only on three July weekends this year; shallow-water grouper closes from Jan. 1-April 30; wreckfish are closed from September through June, and golden tilefish and snowy grouper closed on June 7 and will reopen on Jan. 1.
Black sea bass regulations change north of Cape Hatteras. South of Cape Hatteras, black sea bass have an annual season that begins on June 1 and will close if the allocation is reached. The limit is five fish per person, with a minimum size of 13 inches.
The snapper management unit includes dog, gray, cubera, mahogany, queen, yellowtail, silk and blackfin at a minimum size of 12 inches, plus mutton snapper at 16 inches and lane snapper at 8 inches. These snapper have a combined limit of 10 fish. Vermilion snapper are managed separately at 5 fish per day with a minimum size of 12 inches.
The minimum size for hog snapper is 12 inches with a limit of five per person. Red porgy (pinky, silver snapper) are limited to three per person with a 14-inch minimum size. Fishermen may also keep one greater amberjack with a minimum size of 28 inches fork length.
For more information on the seasons, bag limits, size limits or closures for the 60 species of the snapper grouper complex, contact the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at 843-571-4366 or www.safmc.net.
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