---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 622.185"
title: "50"
number: "622.185"
heading: "Size limits."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/622.185"
---

# §622.185. Size limits.


All size limits in this section are minimum size limits unless specified otherwise. A fish not in compliance with its size limit, as specified in this section, in or from the South Atlantic EEZ, may not be possessed, sold, or purchased. A fish not in compliance with its size limit must be released immediately with a minimum of harm. The operator of a vessel that fishes in the EEZ is responsible for ensuring that fish on board are in compliance with the size limits specified in this section.

- (a) **Snapper—**
  - (1) [Reserved]
  - (2) **Vermilion snapper—** 12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.
  - (3) **Cubera, gray, and yellowtail snappers—** 12 inches (30.5 cm), TL.
  - (4) **Mutton snapper—** 18 inches (45.7 cm), TL.
  - (5) **Lane snapper—** 8 inches (20.3 cm), TL.
- (b) **Grouper—**
  - (1) **Red, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper; and scamp—** 20 inches (50.8 cm), TL.
  - (2) **Black grouper and gag—** 24 inches (61.0 cm), TL.
- (c) **Other snapper-grouper species—**
  - (1) **Black sea bass.**
    - (i) For a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in [§ 622.187(b)(7)—13](/cfr/50/622.187..13.md) inches (33 cm), TL.
    - (ii) For a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit specified in [§ 622.187(b)(7)—11](/cfr/50/622.187..11.md) inches (28 cm), TL.
  - (2) **Gray triggerfish—** 12 inches (30.5 cm), FL.
  - (3) **Hogfish.**
    - (i) **In the South Atlantic EEZ off Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina—** 17 inches (43.2 cm), fork length.
    - (ii) In the South Atlantic EEZ off the Florida Keys and east coast of Florida, and in the Gulf EEZ south of 25°09′ N. lat. off the west coast of Florida—16 inches (40.6 cm), fork length.
  - (4) **Red porgy—** 14 inches (35.6 cm), TL.
  - (5) **Greater amberjack—** 28 inches (71.1 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person subject to the bag limit specified in § [622.187(b)(1)](/cfr/50/622.187.md?p=b-1) and [34](/cfr/50/34.md) inches (86.4 cm), fork length, for a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit.
  - (6) **Almaco jack.** For a fish taken by a person not subject to the bag limit specified in [§ 622.187(b)(8)—20](/cfr/50/622.187..20.md) inches (50.8 cm), FL.

## Notes

### Amendments

[78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 78 FR 44465, July 24, 2013; 80 FR 30952, June 1, 2015; 81 FR 32253, May 23, 2016; 82 FR 34594, July 25, 2017; 83 FR 1309, Jan. 11, 2018; 85 FR 4594, Jan. 27, 2020; 85 FR 11309, Feb. 27, 2020; 88 FR 65822, Sept. 26, 2023]

### Authority

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

### Source

Source: 78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 78 FR 44465, July 24, 2013; 80 FR 30952, June 1, 2015; 81 FR 32253, May 23, 2016; 82 FR 34594, July 25, 2017; 83 FR 1309, Jan. 11, 2018; 85 FR 4594, Jan. 27, 2020; 85 FR 11309, Feb. 27, 2020; 88 FR 65822, Sept. 26, 2023]