XI. Deepwater Complex

A. The Deepwater Complex includes yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, and blackfin snapper.

B. It is unlawful to possess silk snapper, queen snapper and blackfin snapper less than 12 inches total length.

C. There is no commercial trip limit or commercial size limit for yellowedge grouper, misty grouper or sand tilefish (except as in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0103).

XII. Red Porgy

A. It is unlawful to possess red porgy less than 14 inches total length.

B. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale red porgy taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from January 1 through April 30 of each year.

C. It is unlawful to possess more than 120 individual red porgy per vessel per trip from May 1 through December 31.

XIII. Other Porgies
The Porgies Complex includes scup (south of Cape Hatteras only, 35° 15.0321’ N. Latitude), whitebone porgy, jolthead porgy, knobbed porgy, and saucereye porgy. The season is open with no commercial size limits (except as in accordance with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Rule 15A NCAC 03M .0103) or trip limits.

XIV. Golden Tilefish
The golden tilefish commercial season opens January 1, 2020 with the following restrictions:

A. For a vessel with a valid federal Golden Tilefish Longline Endorsement:

1. It is unlawful to possess more than 4,000 pounds (gutted weight) of golden tilefish per trip.
2. It is unlawful for vessels that have valid or renewable golden tilefish longline endorsements, anytime during the golden tilefish fishing year, to take golden tilefish by hook-and-line gear.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 500 pounds (gutted weight) of golden tilefish taken by hook-and-line per trip.

XV. Blueline Tilefish
The blueline tilefish commercial season opens January 1, 2020. It is unlawful to possess more than 300 pounds (gutted weight) of blueline tilefish per trip.
 
XVI. Gray Triggerfish
The gray triggerfish commercial season opens January 1, 2020 with the following restrictions:

A. It is unlawful to possess gray triggerfish less than 12 inches total length.

B. It is unlawful to possess more than 1,000 pounds (whole weight) of gray triggerfish per trip.

XVII. Harvest Restrictions

A. It is unlawful to use or have on board a vessel fish traps for taking snappers and groupers except sea bass pots as allowed in Section XV.B below.

B. South of Cape Hatteras it is unlawful to take black sea bass with pots that fail to conform with the federal rule requirements for configuration, mesh sizes, degradable materials, and escape panels as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.189(b) through (d), and identification requirements as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.177(a).

C. It is unlawful to possess any species of the Snapper Grouper complex except snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, misty grouper, blueline tilefish, golden tilefish and sand tilefish while having longline gear aboard a vessel during open harvest seasons.

D. It is unlawful to fail to use dehooking tools in the snapper grouper fisheries when the fish is to be released.

E. It is unlawful to fail to use non-stainless steel circle hooks when fishing for snapper grouper species using natural baits.

F. It is unlawful to possess any species of the snapper grouper complex without heads and fins intact as specified in 50 CFR Part §622.186.

G. As an exception to Section I.A., spadefish may be retained and sold in any number without a Federal Commercial South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Permit when taken for commercial purposes in coastal waters.