April 29, 2014
By Florida Sportsman
Anglers targeting grouper in Florida state waters of the Atlantic, including Monroe County, will be able to take home some of their catch starting May 1, when the season reopens to harvest. Species included in the recreational and commercial opening are gag, black, red, yellowmouth, yellowfin and tiger grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby. State waters in the Atlantic are from shore to 3 nautical miles out.
The harvest of these species of grouper will remain open until Jan. 1, 2015. The harvest closure was put in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic grouper species.
Recreational anglers targeting these species may not take more than three grouper per person per day. Within this three-fish limit, anglers may possess only one gag or black grouper (not both). Due to recent changes, captain and crew of for-hire vessels are now allowed to retain recreational bag limits of grouper when the season is open.
Dehooking tools must be aboard commercial and recreational vessels for use as needed to remove hooks from Atlantic reef fish.
