Md. Code Regs. 08.02.05.29

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 24, December 2, 2024

Section 08.02.05.29 - 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.

Md. Code Regs. 08.02.05.29

Regulation .29 adopted effective June 28, 2010 (37:13 Md. R. 851)
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.3/30/2015; amended effective 46:13 Md. R. 590, eff. 7/1/2019; amended effective 51:15 Md. R. 706, eff. 8/5/2024.