Updated landings data indicate the commercial annual catch limits for red snapper and gray triggerfish were not met; therefore, NOAA Fisheries is re-opening commercial harvest of red snapper and gray triggerfish.
The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and that is landing red snapper or gray triggerfish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such species prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) 19 December 2012. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to sale or purchase of red snapper or gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) 19 December 2012, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Red Snapper Commercial Size and Trip Limit:
During the re-opening, the commercial trip limit for red snapper is 50 pounds gutted weight. There is no minimum size limit for red snapper during the commercial re-opening.
Gray Triggerfish Commercial Size Limit:
During the re-opening, the commercial size limit for gray triggerfish is 12 inches total length off the coast of Eastern Florida only. Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina do not have size limits for landing commercially harvested gray triggerfish. There is no trip limit for gray triggerfish.
