VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
“PERTAINING TO TILEFISH AND GROUPERS”
CHAPTER 4VAC20-1120-10 ET SEQ
This chapter establishes recreational and commercial limitations on the harvest and landings of Tilefish and Groupers in Virginia.
This chapter is promulgated pursuant to authority contained in §28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia. This chapter amends and re-adopts, as amended, previous Chapter 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq., which was promulgated March 26, 2019 and made effective on April 1, 2019. The effective date of this chapter is February 1, 2024.
4 VAC 20-1120-10. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the conservation of tilefish and grouper and to reduce the potential for overfishing by establishing limits on the harvest and landing of these fish.
4 VAC 20-1120-20. DEFINITIONS.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
“Commercial fishing” or “fishing commercially” or “commercial fishery” means fishing by any person where the catch is for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose, or is intended for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose.
“Grouper” means any of the following species:
Black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci
Coney, Cephalopholis fulva
Gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis
Goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara
Graysby, Cephalopholis cruentata
Misty grouper, Epinephelus mystacinus
Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus
Red grouper, Epinephelus morio
Red Hind, Epinephelus guttatus
Rock Hind, Epinephelus adscensionis
Scamp, Mycteroperca phenax
Snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus
Speckled Hind, Epinephelus drummondhayi
Tiger grouper, Mycteroperca tigris
Warsaw grouper, Epinephelus nigritus
Wreckfish, Polyprion americanus
Yellowedge grouper, Epinephelus flavolimbatus
Yellowfin grouper, Mycteroperca venenosa
Yellowmouth grouper, Mycteroperca interstitialis
“Recreational fishing” or “fishing recreationally” or “recreationally fishing” means fishing by any person, whether licensed or exempted from licensing, where the catch is not for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose, or is not intended for sale, barter, trade, or any commercial purpose.
“Recreational vessel” means any private or rental vessel, charter vessel or headboat participating in the recreational tilefish and grouper fishery.
“Tilefish” means any of the following species:
Blueline tilefish, Caulolatilus microps
Golden tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Sand tilefish, Malacanthus plumieri
4 VAC 20-1120-30. RECREATIONAL HARVEST AND POSSESSION LIMIT.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess or land more than eight golden tilefish in Virginia tidal waters.
B. The recreational harvest, landing and possession limit for blueline tilefish for any person fishing from a private or rental vessel shall be three fish. The recreational harvest, landing and possession limit for blueline tilefish for any person fishing from a for-hire vessel that has been issued a valid Tilefish Charter/Party Permit, but does not have a current U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection shall be five blueline tilefish per person per trip. The recreational harvest, landing and possession limit for blueline tilefish for any person fishing from for-hire vessels that have both a valid Tilefish Charter/Party Permit and a current U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection shall be seven blueline tilefish per person per trip.
C. The recreational harvest, landing and possession limit for grouper, as described in 4 VAC 20-1120-20, shall be one fish. It shall be unlawful for any person to recreationally harvest, land or possess more than one grouper within or without Virginia tidal waters.
D. When fishing recreationally from any boat or vessel, where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the boat or vessel possession limit for any species described in subsections A or B of this section shall be equal to the sum of the personal possession limits, as described in subsections A or B of this section, of those persons on board legally eligible to fish. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limits.
4 VAC 20-1120-31. (REPEALED).
4 VAC 20-1120-32. (REPEALED).
4 VAC 20-1120-35. RECREATIONAL BLUELINE TILEFISH SEASON
It shall be unlawful for any person, fishing recreationally, to harvest or possess any blueline tilefish from January 1 through May 14 and from November 16 through December 31.
4 VAC 20-1120-40. COMMERCIAL LIMITATIONS.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person harvesting tilefish when commercial fishing, as described in 4 VAC 20-1120-20, to do any of the following:
1. Possess aboard any vessel in Virginia waters any amount of tilefish species in excess of 500 pounds whole weight or 455 pounds gutted weight, except as described in 4 VAC 20-1120-40 A.2.
2. Possess aboard any vessel in Virginia waters any amount of blueline tilefish in excess of 300 pounds whole weight or 273 pounds gutted weight.
3. Possess aboard any vessel any amount of golden tilefish during any in-season closure announced by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
B. It shall be unlawful for any vessel to land in Virginia more than 175 pounds of grouper, as described in 4 VAC 20-1120-20, per day when commercial fishing.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to transfer at sea to another person or vessel any harvest of tilefish or grouper.
4 VAC 20-1120-50. PENALTY.
As set forth in §28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
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This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of the chapter passed by the Marine Resources Commission, pursuant to authority vested in the Commission by §28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia, duly advertised according to statute, and recorded in the Commission's minute book, at meeting held in Hampton, Virginia, on January 23, 2024.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
BY: ______________________________
Jamie L. Green
Commissioner
Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day of _________ 2024.
_____________________________________
Notary Public
