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Increased protection for Permit, Florida Pompano, and African Pompano

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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 Atlantic.

Additionally, the Commission decided to create separate management strategies for each species. The combined bag limit for Florida pompano and permit was split into separate bag limits, and the size limits for each species were changed.

The rule amendments the Commission passed created 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.

Overall the new regulations for permit, Florida pompano, and African pompano should greatly increase the protection for these three fish in Florida waters and ensure that future generations can enjoy them.

The 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.
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 Restriction: no more than 2 permit.
Permit — outside SPZ	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″ fork included in the per person bag limit. Vessel Restriction: no more than 2 over 22″ fork.
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 Restriction: no more than 2 African pompano.

Current recreational regulations for state waters through August 30, 2011.
Species	Minimum Size Limits	Daily Bag Limit	Gear	Remarks
Permit & 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″ fork of either permit or Florida pompano included in the aggregate bag limit. Vessel restriction: 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 or per vessel per day, whichever is less	Hook and line only
For additional information visit MyFWC.com/Fishing.

Know your Florida Fish: Permit, Florida Pompano, African Pompano and Palometa
Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus	Can reach up to 25″ and weigh 8 lbs. Body is generally mostly silver with a darker back. Yellow coloring on belly is common in juveniles and adults. Dorsal fin begins forward of anal fin.
Permit Trachinotus falcatus	Can reach up to 45″ and weigh 50 lbs. Orange coloring on belly and/or pelvic and anal fin is common in juveniles. May have a black spot behind the pectoral fin. Dorsal fin begins over anal fin.
African Pompano Alectis ciliarus	Can reach up to 42″ and weigh 50 lbs. Long, threadlike rays at front of dorsal and anal fins (juveniles). 4–5 narrow bars on sides of juveniles only.
Palometa Trachinotus goodei	Can reach up to 20″ and weigh up to 1 lb. Dorsal and anal fins are very elongated. 4 narrow bars on sides of both juveniles and adults. Bright, silvery sides.

Know your Florida Fish: Permit, Florida Pompano, African Pompano and Palometa

Species

Description

Identification

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Can reach up to 25″ and weigh 8 lbs.

Body is generally mostly silver with a darker back.

Yellow coloring on belly is common in juveniles and adults.

Dorsal fin begins forward of anal fin.

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Can reach up to 45″ and weigh 50 lbs.

Orange coloring on belly and/or pelvic
and anal fin is common in juveniles.

May have a black spot behind the
pectoral fin.

Dorsal fin begins over anal fin.

African Pompano

Alectis ciliarus

Can reach up to 42″ and weigh 50 lbs.

Long, threadlike rays at front of dorsal and anal fins (juveniles).

4–5 narrow bars on sides of juveniles only.

Palometa

Trachinotus goodei

Can reach up to 20″ and weigh up to 1 lb.

Dorsal and anal fins are very elongated.

4 narrow bars on sides of both juveniles and adults.

Bright, silvery sides.

Photo: Bob Puccinelli

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