Say Goodbye to State Waters African Pompano
In June 2011, The Commission amended the rule for permit, Florida pompano and African pompano in order to provide increased protection for these important species. In the past, there were no regulations for these fish in federal waters adjacent to Florida. The recreational rule amendments primarily establish recreational regulations in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.
These rules create separate management strategies for each species. The combined bag limit for Florida pompano and permit were split into separate bag limits, and the size limits for each species were changed.
The new rules also create two separate management areas in Florida for permit. The Special Permit Zone (SPZ) lies in south Florida, encompassing waters south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast and south of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast. The regulations for permit in the SPZ are more restrictive to protect spawning aggregations of permit as well as large permit that support the trophy fishery in the Keys. The remainder of Florida (north of Cape Florida and Cape Sable) makes up the other permit management area.
These new regulations take effect August 31, 2011. The recreational regulations in the chart below apply in Florida state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic unless otherwise noted.
Recreational regulations for state and federal waters effective August 31, 2011
| Species | Minimum Size Limits | Closed Season | Daily Bag Limit | Gear | Remarks |
| Permit inside SPZ | 22″ fork length | May 1 – July 31 | 1 per harvester per day | State waters: Hook and line only; Federal waters: Hook and line and spearing | Vessel limit: no more than 2 permit per vessel |
| Permit in all other waters | Not less than 11″ or more than 22″ fork length | 2 per harvester per day | State waters: Hook and line only; Federal waters: Hook and line and spearing | May possess 1 over 22″ included in the per person bag limit. Vessel limit: no more than 2 over 22″ per vessel | |
| Florida pompano | 11″ fork length | 6 per harvester per day | Hook and line, cast net, and beach or haul seine | ||
| African pompano | 24″ fork length | 2 per harvester per day | State waters: hook and line only; Federal waters: Hook and line and spearing | Vessel limit: no more than 2 African pompano per vessel |
Special Permit Zone (SPZ)
Current recreational regulations for state waters through August 30, 2011
| Species | Minimum Size Limits | Daily Bag Limit | Gear | Remarks |
| Permit and Florida Pompano | Not less than 11″ or more than 20″ fork length | 6 per harvester per day aggregate of permit and Florida pompano | Permit: hook and line only | May possess one over 20″ of either permit or Florida pompano included in the aggregate bag limit. Vessel limit: no more than 2 permit and Florida pompano over 20″ fork length at any time in any combination. |
| African Pompano | Not less than 24″ fork length | 2 per harvester per day or per vessel per day, whichever is less | Hook and line only |
For more information:
- June 2011 Commission Meeting Presentation
- Permit species account
- Florida pompano species account
- Permit, Pompano and Palometa fish ID
