622.37—Size limits.
All size limits in this section are minimum size limits unless specified otherwise. Except for undersized king and Spanish mackerel allowed in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section, a fish not in compliance with its size limit, as specified in this section, in or from the Caribbean, Gulf, South Atlantic, and/or Mid-Atlantic EEZ, as appropriate, may not be possessed, sold, or purchased. A fish not in compliance with its size limit must be released immediately with a minimum of harm. The operator of a vessel that fishes in the EEZ is responsible for ensuring that fish on board are in compliance with the size limits specified in this section.
(c) Coastal migratory pelagic fish.
(1)
Cobia in the Gulf, Mid-Atlantic, or South Atlantic—33 inches (83.8 cm), fork length.
(2)
King mackerel in the Gulf, South Atlantic, or Mid-Atlantic—24 inches (61.0 cm), fork length, except that a vessel fishing under a quota for king mackerel specified in § 622.42(c)(1) may possess undersized king mackerel in quantities not exceeding 5 percent, by weight, of the king mackerel on board.
(3)
Spanish mackerel in the Gulf, South Atlantic, or Mid-Atlantic—12 inches (30.5 cm), fork length, except that a vessel fishing under a quota for Spanish mackerel specified in § 622.42(c)(2) may possess undersized Spanish mackerel in quantities not exceeding 5 percent, by weight, of the Spanish mackerel on board.
(iii)
Cubera, dog, gray, mahogany, and yellowtail snappers and schoolmaster—12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.
(iv)
Red snapper -16 inches (40.6 cm), TL, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.39 (b)(1)(iii) and inches (33.0 cm), TL, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit.
(iii)
Black grouper and gag—(A) For a person not subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.39(b)(1)(ii) — inches (61.0 cm), TL.
(iv)
Red grouper—(A) For a person not subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.39 (b)(1)(ii) — inches (45.7 cm), TL.
(iii)
Banded rudderfish and lesser amberjack—14 inches (35.6 cm), fork length (minimum size); 22 inches (55.9 cm), fork length (maximum size).
(iv)
Greater amberjack—30 inches (76 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.39(b)(1)(i) and inches (91.4 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit.
(4)
A person aboard a vessel that has a Federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish and commercial quantities of Gulf reef fish, i.e., Gulf reef fish in excess of applicable bag/possession limits, may not possess any Gulf reef fish that do not comply with the applicable commercial minimum size limit.
(iii)
Blackfin, cubera, dog, gray, mahogany, queen, silk, and yellowtail snappers; and schoolmaster—12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.
(3) Other snapper-grouper species.
(i) Black sea bass.
For a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.39(d)(1)(vii) :
(1) Through May 31, 2007—11 inches (27.9 cm), TL; and
(2) On and after June 1, 2007—12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.
(B)
For a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit in § 622.39(d)(1) — inches (25.4 cm), TL.
(v)
Greater amberjack—28 inches (71.1 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § 622.39(d)(1)(i) and inches (91.4 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit.
(f) Gulf shrimp.
White shrimp harvested in the EEZ are subject to the minimum-size landing and possession limits of Louisiana when possessed within the jurisdiction of that State.
(g) Caribbean queen conch—
9 inches (22.9 cm) in length, that is, from the tip of the spire to the distal end of the shell, and 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) in lip width at its widest point. A queen conch with a length of at least 9 inches (22.9 cm) or a lip width of at least 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) is not undersized.
[61 FR 34934, July 3, 1996]