FF-52-2013
PROCLAMATION
RE: SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX-COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES
Dr. Louis B. Daniel III, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, October 16, 2013, the following restrictions will apply to the fisheries for snapper-grouper:
I. Black Sea Bass, south of Cape Hatteras (35° 15.0321’ N. Latitude)
A. For recreational purposes: 1. It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 13 inches total length.
2. It is unlawful to possess more than five (5) black sea bass per person per day.
B. For commercial purposes: 1. It is unlawful to possess black sea bass less than 11 inches total length.
2. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Permit to possess more than 1,180 whole weight (1,000 pounds gutted weight) of black sea bass per trip.
3. Effective at 12:01 A.M., Friday, November 1, 2013, it is unlawful to use or possess aboard a vessel black sea bass pots or traps. This pot closure period will end at 12:01 A.M., Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
II. Gag Grouper and Black Grouper
A. For recreational purposes: 1. It is unlawful to possess gag or black grouper less than 24 inches total length.
2. It is unlawful to possess more than one gag or one black grouper per person per day without a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.
B. For commercial purposes: 1. It is unlawful to possess gag or black grouper less than 24 inches total length.
2. It is unlawful to possess more than one gag or one black grouper per person per day without a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.
3. It is unlawful for a vessel with a valid Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Permit to possess more than 1,000 pounds (gutted weight) of gag grouper per trip.
III. Other Groupers
A. It is unlawful to possess shallow water grouper species taken for recreational and commercial purposes from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from January 1 through April 30. Shallow water grouper species include gag, black, red, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper.
B. It is unlawful to possess red grouper less than 20 inches total length.
C. It is unlawful to possess yellowfin grouper (fireback grouper) less than 20 inches total length.
D. It is unlawful to possess scamp less than 20 inches total length.
E. It is unlawful to possess yellowmouth grouper less than 20 inches total length.
F. It is unlawful to possess snowy grouper in a commercial or recreational fishing operation taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management. The commercial and recreational season will reopen at 12:01 A.M. on January 14, 2014.
