Florida cutting daily bag limit for red grouper

Fishermen will be allowed fewer red grouper under a rule approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission this week.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved lowering the red grouper recreational bag limit from four to two fish per person in Gulf of Mexico state waters, excluding Monroe County.

The Commission hopes that the change will mean an increase in the length of the recreational red grouper season in federal waters, which closed early this year because the recreational catch limit was exceeded in 2013.

A two-fish bag limit was initially requested by Florida fishermen and for-hire captains to help maximize fishing opportunities for red grouper, especially during late fall.

The change would also make state regulations consistent with similar pending regulations in Gulf federal waters.

Assuming the two-fish bag limit is finalized in federal waters, the state change will go into effect beginning January 1st.

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