Length Measurement FAQ’s
Saltwater finfish
size limits are expressed in Total Length and Fork Length
Clarification was
approved for the definition of Total Length at the December
2005 Commission meeting. The rule is effective July 1, 2006.
Previously, FWC
rules did not consistently state how to obtain total length, leaving
this measurement open to interpretation by anglers and law
enforcement officers. This modification should provide ease of
measurement for anglers and ease of enforcement of size limits.
Anglers have also asked for consistency between marine fish and
freshwater fish measurements as well as with the federal definition
for total length. Better compliance with our regulations should
result because visiting anglers from nearby states are currently
instructed to measure total length by squeezing the tail in their
home states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and North
Carolina. Thus, this method is already familiar to them, and this
could foster compliance with our regulations by out-of-state
anglers. Also, many Florida saltwater anglers had already been
measuring total length with a pinched tail, thus for these people
there will be no change in method.
Only species that
are currently measured as total length will be affected.
Species measured as fork length will not be
affected.
Federal rules
currently state that gray triggerfish should be measured as total
length. However, their definition of total length specifies that
tail filaments should be excluded, which is essentially a fork
length measurement. Anglers often include the tail filaments in the
measurement of total length for gray triggerfish, which is allowing
them to harvest fish that are below the intended 12-inch size
limit. Changing the measurement of gray triggerfish to fork length
will also allow gray triggerfish to be measured similarly to
hogfish, which are currently measured as fork length and have
similar tail filament types.
-
How do I measure fish that have ragged-edge type tail
filaments, such as scamp, yellowmouth grouper, or black sea
bass?
For fish that
have “ragged-edge” type filaments, these “pieces” of the tail should
be included in the measurement of total length, which is implied by
stating that the fish be measured to the “farthest tip of the tail”
in the definition for total length.
Sheepshead and
flounder are included in the same rule (68B-48, Florida
Administrative Code). This rule lists a size limit of 12 inches
total length for sheepshead and flounder. However, “length” was
previously defined as “from the most forward point of the head to
the rear center edge of the tail”. This was a total length measure
for flounder since they have a convex tail, but this was a fork
length measurement for sheepshead since they have a slightly forked
tail. However, the rule stated that sheepshead should be measured
as total length. This inconsistency was part of the reason we
needed to modify our rules. Thus, under the new definition
sheepshead should be measured as total length with a squeezed tail.
For species
(measured as total length) with a flat or rounded tail (red drum,
spotted seatrout, and tripletail) there will be little change since
minimal length is gained by squeezing the tail on those species.
For species with a concave or “forked” tail (measured as total
length) the new interpretation will only have a small impact, but
the overall effect on the stock will be negligable. Also, the new
interpretation will only affect anglers who had been interpreting
total length to mean total length-relaxed (unsqueezed tail).
If you were not
squeezing the tail before, there is approximately a 0.77 inch
difference between a relaxed tail and a squeezed tail. However,
because of the variation in size-at-age, squeezing the tail will
have a small effect on the overall snook stock. Due to public
concern about the status of snook stocks, the FWC voted at its June
2006 Commission meeting to shift the snook slot from 26 - 34 inches
to 27 - 34 inches in order to negate any potential negative effects
on snook stocks. This shift will result in a 22% harvest reduction
on the Gulf coast and a 12% reduction on the Atlantic coast
according to the most recent snook stock assessment. The change is
predicted to result in an increase in spawning potential ratio (SPR)
by 7% on the Gulf coast and 5% on the Atlantic coast.
Yes
The Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management measures
all regulated fish using a total length measurement with a squeezed
tail.
The State of
Florida has wrestled with how to measure saltwater finfish since
1925. In 1925 the Legislature first enacted length measurements for
marine finfish. Many different methods have been used over the
years (1925-1973) including: tip of nose to fork of tail, tip
of nose to tip of tail, tip of nose to end of tail,
and tip of nose to rear center edge of tail. At any one
time, one or all of these definitions were used. In the late 1980s
both a total length and a fork length size limit were listed in rule
for some species. By the mid 1990s, only one measure was chosen for
most species primarily based on the way federal regulations
specified how the species should be measured.
At the present
time most of the regulated species in Florida are measured by either
a total length or fork length method. The method chosen depends on
the shape of the tail and primarily on the consistency with federal
regulations. Consistency with federal regulations is very important
for the enforcement of state and federal size limits.
If you have
further questions please contact the Division of Marine Fisheries
Management at 850-487-0554.
