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

(1) Purpose and intent.

(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.

(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.

(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.

1. Grouper.

a. Coney.

b. Graysby.

c. Misty grouper.

d. Red hind.

e. Rock hind.

2. Snapper.

a. Black snapper.

b. Dog snapper.

c. Mahogany snapper.

d. Schoolmaster.

e. Wenchman.

(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 50 C.F.R. §622.20(b) any 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 50 C.F.R. §622.20(b) are prohibited from fishing for or possessing red snapper in federal EEZ waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

(2) Designation as restricted species. The following species are hereby designated as restricted species pursuant to section 379.101(32), F.S.:

(a) Amberjacks – Genus Seriola:

1. Almaco jack – Seriola rivoliana.

2. Banded rudderfish – Seriola zonata.

3. Greater amberjack – Seriola dumerili.

4. Lesser amberjack – Seriola fasciata.

(b) Groupers and Sea Basses – Family Serranidae:

1. Bank sea bass – Centropristis ocyurus.

2. Black grouper – Mycteroperca bonaci.

3. Black sea bass – Centropristis striata.

4. Coney – Epinephelus fulvus.

5. Gag – Mycteroperca microlepis.

6. Graysby – Epinephelus cruentatus.

7. Misty grouper – Epinephelus mystacinus.

8. Red grouper – Epinephelus morio.

9. Red hind – Epinephelus guttatus.

10. Rock hind – Epinephelus adscensionis.

11. Rock sea bass – Centropristis philadelphica.

12. Scamp – Mycteroperca phenax.

13. Snowy grouper – Epinephelus niveatus.

14. Speckled hind – Epinephelus drummondhayi.

15. Warsaw grouper – Epinephelus nigritus.

16. Yellowedge grouper – Epinephelus flavolimbatus.

17. Yellowfin grouper – Mycteroperca venenosa.

18. Yellowmouth grouper – Mycteroperca interstitialis.

(c) Snappers – Family Lutjanidae:

1. Black snapper – Apsilus dentatus.

2. Blackfin snapper – Lutjanus buccanella.

3. Cubera snapper – Lutjanus cyanopterus.

4. Dog snapper – Lutjanus jocu.

5. Gray (mangrove) snapper – Lutjanus griseus.

6. Lane snapper – Lutjanus synagris.

7. Mahogany snapper – Lutjanus mahogoni.

8. Mutton snapper – Lutjanus analis.

9. Queen snapper – Etelis oculatus.

10. Red snapper – Lutjanus campechanus.

11. Schoolmaster – Lutjanus apodus.

12. Silk snapper – Lutjanus vivanus.

13. Vermilion snapper – Rhomboplites aurorubens.

14. Wenchman – Pristipomoides aquilonaris.

15. Yellowtail snapper – Ocyrus chrysurus.

(d) Gray triggerfish – Balistes capriscus.

(e) Hogfish – Lachnolaimus maximus.

(f) Red porgy – Pagrus pagrus.

(g) Golden tilefish – Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps.

(h) Blueline tilefish – Caulolatilus microps.

Rulemaking 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.