Md. Code Regs. 08.02.05.29 - [Effective 8/5/2024] Snapper Grouper Complex
A. Snapper
Grouper Management Groups.
(1) Grouper. The
following species of the snapper grouper complex are defined as grouper:
(a) Black grouper (Mycteroperca
bonaci);
(b) Coney (Cephalopholis
fulva);
(c) Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis);
(d)
Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara);
(e) Graysby (Cephalopholis
cruentata);
(f) Misty grouper
(Epinephelus mystacinus);
(g)
Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus);
(h) Red grouper (Epinephelus
morio);
(i) Red hind (Epinephelus
guttatus);
(j) Rock hind
(Epinephelus adscensionis);
(k)
Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax);
(l)
Snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus);
(m) Speckled hind (Epinephelus
drummondhayi);
(n) Tiger grouper
(Mycteroperca tigris);
(o) Warsaw
grouper (Epinephelus nigritus);
(p)
Wreckfish (Polyprion americanus);
(q) Yellowedge grouper (Epinephelus
flavolimbatus);
(r) Yellowfin
grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa); and
(s) Yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca
interstitialis).
(2)
Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus).
(3) Other. The remaining species of the
snapper grouper complex are:
(a) Queen
snapper (Etelis oculatus);
(b)
Yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus);
(c) Gray snapper (Lutjanus
griseus);
(d) Mutton snapper
(Lutjanus analis);
(e) Lane snapper
(Lutjanus synagris);
(f) Cubera
snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus);
(g)
Dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu);
(h)
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus);
(i)
Mahogany snapper (Lutjanus mahogoni);
(j) Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites
aurorubens);
(k) Red snapper
(Lutjanus campechanus);
(l) Silk
snapper (Lutjanus vivanus);
(m)
Blackfin snapper (Lutjanus buccanella);
(n) Black snapper (Apsilus
dentatus);
(o) Red porgy (Pagrus
pagrus);
(p) Knobbed porgy (Calamus
nodosus);
(q) Jolthead porgy
(Calamus bajonado);
(r) Whitebone
porgy (Calamus leucosteus);
(s)
Saucereye porgy (Calamus calamus);
(t) Grass porgy (Calamus
arctifrons);
(u) Longspine porgy
(Stenotomus caprinus);
(v) White
grunt (Haemulon plumieri);
(w) Black
margate (Anisotremus surinamensis);
(x) Margate (Haemulon album);
(y) Tomtate (Haemulon
aurolineatum);
(z) Sailor's choice
(Haemulon parra);
(aa) Porkfish
(Anisotremus virginicus);
(bb)
Bluestriped grunt (Haemulon sciurus);
(cc) French grunt (Haemulon
flavolineatum);
(dd) Cottonwick
(Haemulon melanurum);
(ee) Spanish
grunt (Haemulon macrostomum);
(ff)
Smallmouth grunt (Haemulon chrysargyreum);
(gg) Greater amberjack (Seriola
dumerili);
(hh) Crevalle jack
(Caranx hippos);
(ii) Blue runner
(Caranx crysos);
(jj) Almaco jack
(Seriola rivoliana);
(kk) Banded
rudderfish (Seriola zonata);
(ll)
Bar jack (Caranx ruber);
(mm)
Lesser amberjack (Seriola fasciata);
(nn) Yellow jack (Caranx
bartholomaei);
(oo) Gray
triggerfish (Balistes capriscus);
(pp) Ocean triggerfish (Canthidermis
sufflamen);
(qq) Queen triggerfish
(Balistes vetula);
(rr) Hogfish
(Lachnolaimus maximus);
(ss)
Puddingwife (Halichoeres radiates); and
(tt) Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus
faber).
B.
Season. The season for taking species listed in §A of this regulation is
January 1 through December 31.
C.
Size Limit.
(1) Except as provided in
§C(2) of this regulation, there is no minimum or maximum size limit for
the species listed in §A of this regulation.
(2) A recreational angler may not catch or
possess a sheepshead less than 12 inches in total length.
D. Recreational. An individual may not catch
or possess more than:
(1) One of any species
or any combination of the species listed in §A(1) of this
regulation;
(2) Four sheepshead;
and
(3) For species listed in
§A(3) of this regulation:
(a) Ten of any
single species; and
(b) 20 of any
combination of the species.
E. Commercial.
(1) The weight limits of this section are the
total combined weight of all species defined as grouper.
(2) Grouper. A commercial licensee may not
harvest, possess, or land more than 175 pounds of grouper per
trip.
F. Public Notice.
(1) The Secretary may establish or modify
catch limits, size limits, and seasons for species identified in §A of
this regulation in order to comply with species management through National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, by issuing a public notice on
the Department's website.
(2) The
public notice shall state its effective hour and date and shall be published on
the Department's website at least 48 hours in advance of the effective hour and
date.
(3) The Secretary shall make
a reasonable effort to disseminate public notice through various other media so
that an affected person has reasonable opportunity to be informed.
(4) A violation of the restrictions set by
the Secretary in accordance with this section is a violation of this
regulation.
Notes
Regulation .29 amended effective March 21, 2011 (38:6 Md. R. 393)
Regulation .29D, F amended effective August 22, 2011 (38:17 Md. R. 1012)
Regulation .29 amended effective 42:6 Md. R. 511, eff.
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