Reef fishermen in the Gulf are gearing up to comply with regulations which went into effect Sunday, June 1. All fishermen targeting reef fish—that is all snappers, groupers, seabass, amberjacks, gray triggerfish, hogfish, red porgy and golden tilefish—must use non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks for natural baits, and must have dehooking devices and venting tools on the boat.

These new rules, implemented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to mirror federal standards, are intended to help undersize Gulf reef fish survive when released.

Dehooking devices must be blunt, have rounded edges and be of appropriate size for the different hook sizes used for various Gulf reef fish, says the FWC. A venting tool is usually a sharpened, hollow instrument, such as a hypodermic syringe with the plunger removed, or a 16-gauge needle fixed to a hollow wooden dowel.

Reef fish brought up from 50 feet or more may have an expanded swim bladder which forces the stomach through the mouth. Signs include protruded stomach, bulging eyes and bloated belly. Do not puncture the stomach, authorities advise; instead, insert venting tool needle into the fish at a 45-degree angle under a scale one to two inches behind the base of the pectoral fin. Insert the needle only deep enough to release trapped gasses. Knives and ice picks are not approved venting tools.

For complete information on Gulf reef fish gear rules, go to www.MyFWC.com/marine