Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68B - Marine Fisheries › Chapter 68B-12 - KING MACKEREL RESOURCE RENEWAL › Section 68B-12.004 - Bag Limits

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Except as provided
				in Rule 68B-12.0046, F.A.C., each person
				harvesting king mackerel from the Gulf-Atlantic fishery shall be subject to a
				bag limit of three fish per person, per day (consistent with the Federal
				Standard established in 50 C.F.R. §622.382(a)(1)(ii) as of May 11, 2017),
				unless and until the bag limit is reduced to one fish per person, per day
				pursuant to subsection
				68B-12.0045(2),
				F.A.C.
(2) Except as provided in
				Rule 68B-12.0046, F.A.C., or
				subsection (3) of this rule, no person shall possess while in, on, or above the
				waters of the Gulf-Atlantic fishery or on any dock, pier, bridge, beach, or
				other fishing site adjacent to such waters, more than the applicable bag limit
				for king mackerel specified in subsection (1), of this rule.
(3) Consistent with Federal Standards, any
				person harvesting pursuant to the bag limits of this rule, who has fished
				aboard a vessel for hire on a trip that spans more than 30 hours may possess,
				at any time during the trip, no more than two daily bag limits provided that
				the vessel has two licensed operators aboard, and each passenger is issued and
				has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the
				date and time of departure and length of the trip (consistent with requirements
				established in 50 C.F.R.§622.382(a)(2)(ii) as of March 26,
				2021).
(4) Except as provided in
				subsection (3), possession of king mackerel in excess of the bag limit
				specified in subsection (1) of this rule, by any person aboard a vessel fishing
				in the Gulf-Atlantic fishery constitutes a violation of this rule.
(5) Annual Season Harvest Limit Adjustment -
				The goal of the Commission is to rebuild the king mackerel spawning stock
				biomass in the Gulf-Atlantic fishery, consistent with federal management
				measures, if in the best interests of the fishery and residents of the state,
				so that the species is no longer considered overfished and maximum practicable
				sustainable stock abundance may be maintained. To achieve that goal the
				Commission will manage the recreational Gulf-Atlantic fishery by means of
				fishery-wide two-step bag and possession limits without season closures. It is
				the intention of the Commission to adjust no more frequently than on an annual
				basis the bag and possession limits specified in subsections (1) and (2), of
				this rule, if adjustment is necessary to attain progress toward the goal stated
				above. The following procedure shall be used by the Commission to annually
				adjust the recreational bag and possession limits, if necessary:
(a) Any adjustment to the bag and possession
				limits shall be applicable beginning on July 1 and be in effect for at least
				one calendar year. Once adjusted, the bag and possession limits shall remain in
				place until adjusted again pursuant to this subsection.
(b) By June 1 of each year in which
				adjustment of the recreational bag and possession limits is contemplated for
				the coming season, the Commission shall hold a public hearing to which all
				interested persons are invited. The meeting shall be noticed in accordance with
				Section 120.525, F.S.
(c) The adjusted bag and possession limits
				shall be published by notice in the Florida Administrative Register and in at
				least three major newspapers in coastal regions of the state within the
				fishery. The notices shall be published by June
				15.