68B-14.001. Purpose and Intent, Designation as Restricted Species  


Effective on Wednesday, April 1, 2020
  • 1(1) Purpose and intent.

    5(a) The purpose of this chapter is to protect and replenish Florida’s reef fish resources by imposing minimum size limits, recreational bag limits, and restrictions on gear used to harvest the families, genera and species listed herein.

    42(b) The prohibitions contained in this chapter are not intended to supersede or conflict with provisions of any federal management plan or regulations operative in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters adjacent to Florida waters.

    76(c) The regulations in this chapter apply in all state waters and, in the absence of any regulations for the following species in federal waters, apply in adjacent federal EEZ waters.

    1071. Grouper.

    109a. Coney.

    111b. Graysby.

    113c. Misty grouper.

    116d. Red hind.

    119e. Rock hind.

    1222. Snapper.

    124a. Black snapper.

    127b. Dog snapper.

    130c. Mahogany snapper.

    133d. Schoolmaster.

    135e. Wenchman.

    137(d) The size limit, bag limit, and seasons for red snapper harvested recreationally in the Gulf of Mexico apply to all recreational harvesters within or without Florida waters, except for recreational harvesters on a vessel that has been issued a valid federal Charter/Headboat permit for Gulf Reef Fish pursuant to 18750 C.F.R. §622.20(b) 190any time during the fishing year. Vessels for hire that do not possess aboard the vessel a valid federal Gulf of Mexico Charter/Headboat permit for Reef Fish pursuant to 21950 C.F.R. §622.20(b) 222are prohibited from fishing for or possessing red snapper in federal EEZ waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

    240(2) Designation as restricted species. The following species are hereby designated as restricted species pursuant to section 257379.101(32), F.S.259:

    260(a) Amberjacks – Genus 264Seriola265:

    2661. Almaco jack – 270Seriola rivoliana272.

    2732. Banded rudderfish – 277Seriola zonata279.

    2803. Greater amberjack – 284Seriola dumerili286.

    2874. Lesser amberjack – 291Seriola fasciata293.

    294(b) Groupers and Sea Basses – Family Serranidae:

    3021. Bank sea bass – 307Centropristis ocyurus309.

    3102. Black grouper – 314Mycteroperca bonaci.

    3163. Black sea bass – 321Centropristis striata323.

    3244. Coney – 327Epinephelus fulvus329.

    3305. Gag – 333Mycteroperca microlepis335.

    3366. Graysby – 339Epinephelus cruentatus341.

    3427. Misty grouper – 346Epinephelus mystacinus348.

    3498. Red grouper – 353Epinephelus morio355.

    3569. Red hind – 360Epinephelus guttatus362.

    36310. Rock hind – 367Epinephelus adscensionis369.

    37011. Rock sea bass – 375Centropristis philadelphica377.

    37812. Scamp – 381Mycteroperca phenax383.

    38413. Snowy grouper – 388Epinephelus niveatus390.

    39114. Speckled hind – 395Epinephelus drummondhayi397.

    39815. Warsaw grouper – 402Epinephelus nigritus404.

    40516. Yellowedge grouper – 409Epinephelus flavolimbatus411.

    41217. Yellowfin grouper – 416Mycteroperca venenosa418.

    41918. Yellowmouth grouper – 423Mycteroperca interstitialis425.

    426(c) Snappers – Family Lutjanidae:

    4311. Black snapper – 435Apsilus dentatus437.

    4382. Blackfin snapper – 442Lutjanus buccanella444.

    4453. Cubera snapper – 449Lutjanus cyanopterus451.

    4524. Dog snapper – 456Lutjanus jocu458.

    4595. Gray (mangrove) snapper – 464Lutjanus griseus466.

    4676. Lane snapper – 471Lutjanus synagris473.

    4747. Mahogany snapper – 478Lutjanus mahogoni480.

    4818. Mutton snapper – 485Lutjanus analis.

    4879. Queen snapper – 491Etelis oculatus493.

    49410. Red snapper – 498Lutjanus campechanus500.

    50111. Schoolmaster – 504Lutjanus apodus506.

    50712. Silk snapper – 511Lutjanus vivanus513.

    51413. Vermilion snapper – 518Rhomboplites aurorubens520.

    52114. Wenchman – 524Pristipomoides aquilonaris526.

    52715. Yellowtail snapper – 531Ocyrus chrysurus533.

    534(d) Gray triggerfish – 538Balistes capriscus540.

    541(e) Hogfish – 544Lachnolaimus maximus.

    546(f) Red porgy – 550Pagrus pagrus.

    552(g) Golden tilefish – 556Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps558.

    559(h) Blueline tilefish – 563Caulolatilus microps565.

    566Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., Chapter 83-134, Laws of Fla., as amended by Chapter 84-121, Laws of Fla. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., Chapter 83-134, Laws of Fla., as amended by Chapter 84-121, Laws of Fla. History–New 7-29-85, Amended 12-11-86, 2-1-90, 12-31-92, 3-31-94, 12-31-98, Formerly 46-14.001, Amended 1-1-00, 1-1-03, 7-1-07, 7-1-16, 7-1-19, 4-1-20.