In its December 2024 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new recreational fishing regulations for gag and black grouper, aligning them with existing and forthcoming federal rules in nearby Atlantic waters, according to a press release from the FWC.
These changes affect the harvest of gag and black grouper in Atlantic state waters, including Monroe County. The new rules establish a combined two-fish recreational vessel limit and prohibit for-hire captains and crew from retaining a bag limit.
The decision follows the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s approval of management measures aimed at rebuilding the gag grouper fishery, which has faced overfishing for decades. Because gag and black grouper have historically been managed under the same regulations due to species misidentification, the Council also extended the same rules to both types of grouper.
The FWC stated that the new regulations are designed to reduce the incidental harvest of gag grouper, ultimately helping to rebuild the gag grouper stock and end overfishing. Consistent regulations across Florida’s Atlantic state and federal waters are expected to improve stock health, halt overfishing, and enhance compliance and enforcement efforts statewide.
As of now, the new rules have not yet been implemented. The FWC has indicated that they will go into effect once related federal regulations are in place.
For more information on Florida’s recreational saltwater fishing regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine or download the Fish Rules App. To learn more about Commission Meetings, including the December 2024 meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission.
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