FWC’s Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) Project

1. Groups:
   • Experimental Group – 100 randomly assigned anglers from lottery
     • Allowed to fish a maximum of 3 FWC Hot Spot Fleet fishing trips targeting snapper grouper during each quarter.
     • Allowed to harvest 3 red snapper per day outside of the 1-day federal season under an Exempted Fishing Permit.
     • Participants will be required to stop fishing for all snapper grouper species (i.e., bottom fishing) once they have reached the 15-fish snapper grouper aggregate bag limit.
     • Other requirements are listed in the Program Requirement section.
   • Control Group – 100 randomly assigned anglers from lottery
     • Allowed to fish a maximum of 3 FWC Hot Spot Fleet fishing trips targeting snapper grouper during each quarter.
     • Must follow federal regulations; no additional red snapper harvest opportunities outside of the 1-day federal season. 
     • Not required to fish the snapper grouper aggregate.
     • Other requirements are listed in the Program Requirement section.
     • Anglers randomly assigned to the Control Group will be eligible for further incentives and given preference points for the Experimental Group in future lottery drawings (should an angler reapply).  
2. 15-fish Snapper Grouper Aggregate – Each Experimental Group participant must stop bottom fishing for snapper grouper species (i.e., can still target other species, like inshore fishes or pelagics) once they reach the snapper grouper-aggregate.
   1. 1. • Only 1 fish can be a gag, black, or scamp grouper
         • Up to 2 fish can be red, yellowfin, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind, or rock hind grouper
         • Only 1 fish can be a red porgy, blueline tilefish, or golden tilefish
         • Only 1 fish can be greater amberjack
         • Up to 3 fish can be lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded rudderfish
         • Up to 5 fish can be black sea bass
         • Up to 5 fish can be gray triggerfish
         • Up to 10 fish can be grunts
         • Up to 10 fish can be Atlantic spadefish or bar jack
         • Up to 10 fish can be porgies (red porgy excluded)
         • Up to 10 can be schoolmaster, gray, lane, yellowtail, queen, silk, or blackfin snapper
         • Up to 5 can be vermilion, cubera, or mutton snapper

1. Eligibility: If selected in the lottery, participants must have a valid Florida recreational fishing license (or be exempt as per Chapter 379.353 F.S.) and sign up for the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Any private recreational angler that does not have a resource violation would be eligible to participate in the Hot Spot Fleet.  
2. Reporting: If selected in the lottery, participants must fill out a logbook of data for the trip and then must transfer this information to FWC’s app within 48 after the FWC Hot Spot Fleet trip is completed.  Type of information includes catch and discard data of species caught, areas fished, and time spent fishing.  Participants must schedule a FWC Hot Spot Fleet trip in FWC’s app and hail-in and hail-out for FWC Hot Spot Fleet trips.
3. Education requirement (coming soon): If selected in the lottery, participants must take an educational course before fishing in a FWC Hot Spot Fleet trip.
4. Dockside validation: If selected in the lottery, participants must be willing to submit to sampling of their catch by FWC biologists.
5. Angler satisfaction survey: If selected in the lottery, participants must be willing to take a pre- and post-participation survey and be interviewed by FWC staff.
6. Other requirements: Retain a copy of the EFP and SAL on-board the vessel used for FWC Hot Spot Fleet trips.

1. Hook and line only
2. Other state and federal gear regulations apply.

1. Groups
   • Experimental Group – 100 randomly assigned anglers from lottery
     • Allowed to fish a maximum of 2 FWC SE Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet fishing trips targeting snapper grouper during each quarter.
     • Allowed to harvest 3 red snapper per day outside of the 1-day federal season under an Exempted Fishing Permit.
     • Participants will be required to stop fishing for all snapper grouper species (i.e., bottom fishing) once they have reached the 15-fish snapper grouper aggregate bag limit.
     • Other requirements are listed in the Program Requirement section.
   • Control Group – 100 randomly assigned anglers from lottery
     • Allowed to fish a maximum of 2 FWC SE Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet targeting snapper grouper during each quarter.
     • Must follow federal regulations; no additional red snapper harvest opportunities outside of the 1-day federal season. 
     • Not required to fish the snapper grouper aggregate.
     • Other requirements are listed in the Program Requirement section.
     • Anglers randomly assigned to the Control Group will be eligible for further incentives and given preference points for the Experimental Group in future lottery drawings (should an angler reapply).
2. 15-fish Snapper Grouper Aggregate – Each participant must stop bottom fishing for snapper grouper species (i.e., can still target other species, like inshore fishes or pelagics) once they reach the snapper grouper-aggregate.
   • Only 1 fish can be a gag, black, or scamp grouper
   • Up to 2 fish can be red, yellowfin, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind, or rock hind grouper
   • Only 1 fish can be a red porgy, blueline tilefish, or golden tilefish
   • Only 1 fish can be greater amberjack
   • Up to 3 fish can be lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded rudderfish
   • Up to 5 fish can be black sea bass
   • Up to 5 fish can be gray triggerfish
   • Up to 10 fish can be grunts
   • Up to 10 fish can be Atlantic spadefish or bar jack
   • Up to 10 fish can be porgies (red porgy excluded)
   • Up to 10 can be schoolmaster, gray, lane, yellowtail, queen, silk, or blackfin snapper
   • Up to 5 can be vermilion, cubera, or mutton snapper

1. Eligibility: If selected in the lottery, participants must have a valid Florida recreational fishing license (or be exempt as per Chapter 379.353 F.S.) and sign up for the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Any private recreational angler that does not have a resource violation would be eligible to participate in the FWC SE FL Snapper Grouper Fleet.  
2. Reporting: If selected in the lottery, participants must fill out a logbook of data for the trip and then must transfer this information to FWC’s app within 48 hours after the FWC SE FL Snapper Grouper Fleet trip is completed.  Type of information includes catch and discard data at the species level, areas fished, and time spent fishing.  Participants must schedule a FWC SE FL Snapper Grouper Fleet trip in FWC’s app and hail-in and hail-out for FWC SE FL Snapper Grouper Fleet trips. 
3. Education requirement (coming soon): If selected in the lottery, FWC participants must take a 3-part module educational course before fishing in a FWC SE FL Snapper Grouper Fleet trip.
4. Dockside validation: If selected in the lottery, participants must be willing to submit to sampling of their catch by FWC biologists.
5. Angler satisfaction survey: If selected in the lottery, participants must be willing to take a pre- and post-participation survey and be interviewed by FWC staff.
6. Other requirements: Retain a copy of the EFP and SAL on-board the vessel used for SE FL Snapper Grouper Fleet trips.

1. Hook and line only
2. Other state and federal gear regulations apply.

1. Groups
   • Charter-for hire captains: 5
     • Allowed to fish a maximum of 4 FWC Study Fleet trips targeting snapper grouper species during each quarter
     • Allowed to harvest up to 36 red snapper per vessel during approved FWC Study Fleet trips outside of the 1-day federal season under an Exempted Fishing Permit.
     • Captains must require individual anglers to stop targeted snapper grouper fishing (i.e., bottom fishing) once they reach their respective 15-fish snapper grouper aggregate bag limit and must require the vessel stop targeted snapper-grouper fishing once the snapper-grouper aggregate bag limit of 15-fish has been met for all anglers or the vessel limit of 36 red snapper has been met (whichever occurs first).
     • Other requirements are listed in the Program Requirement section.
   • Private recreational captains: 5
     • Allowed to fish a maximum of 3 FWC Study Fleet trips targeting snapper grouper during each quarter
     • Allowed to harvest up to 36 red snapper per vessel during approved FWC Study Fleet trips outside of the 1-day federal season under an Exempted Fishing Permit.
     • Captains must require individual anglers to stop targeted snapper-grouper fishing (i.e., bottom fishing) once they reach their respective 15-fish snapper grouper aggregate bag limit and must require the vessel stop targeted snapper-grouper fishing once the snapper-grouper aggregate bag limit of 15-fish has been met for all anglers or the vessel limit of 36 red snapper has been met (whichever occurs first).
     • Other requirements are listed in the Program Requirement section.
2. 15-fish Snapper Grouper Aggregate – Each participant must stop bottom fishing for snapper grouper species (i.e., can still target other species, like inshore fishes or pelagics) once they reach the snapper grouper-aggregate.
   • Only 1 fish can be a gag, black, or scamp grouper
   • Up to 2 fish can be red, yellowfin, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind, or rock hind grouper
   • Only 1 fish can be a red porgy, blueline tilefish, or golden tilefish
   • Only 1 fish can be greater amberjack
   • Up to 3 fish can be lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded rudderfish
   • Up to 5 fish can be black sea bass
   • Up to 5 fish can be gray triggerfish
   • Up to 10 fish can be grunts
   • Up to 10 fish can be Atlantic spadefish or bar jack
   • Up to 10 fish can be porgies (red porgy excluded)
   • Up to 10 can be schoolmaster, gray, lane, yellowtail, queen, silk, or blackfin snapper
   • Up to 5 can be vermilion, cubera, or mutton snapper

1. Eligibility  
   • Captains/owners of private vessels and captains of charter vessels that fish within the proposal area are eligible to apply to participate in the study fleet.
     • Private recreational captains are defined as someone who will be responsible for safe operation of the vessel during FWC Study Fleet trips and, if born after Jan. 1, 1988, has successfully completed an FWC approved boating safety course and obtained a Boating Safety Education Identification Card. A captain may be exempt from these requirements if they are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as master of a vessel or are a nonresident that has completed a NASBLA approved boater safety course or equivalent examination from another state.
     • Charter captains are defined as someone who will be responsible for safe operation of the vessel during FWC Study Fleet trips and is licensed by the U.S.C.G. to carry for-hire passengers and has the appropriate federal and state charter permits. This study is not intended for headboats. Further, to be eligible to participate in this program, private vessels and charter vessels are limited to a maximum of 6 anglers (excluding the captain and crew) per designated fishing trip.
   • All anglers fishing from private vessels must have a Florida recreational fishing license (or be exempt as per Chapter 379.353 F.S.) and be signed up for Florida’s State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS) prior to fishing aboard a trip as part of the FWC Study Fleet.
2. Any captain that does not have a resource violation would be eligible to participate in the FWC Study Fleet. Reporting Requirements for Captain
   • If selected, captains must fill out a logbook of data for the trip and then must transfer this information to FWC’s app within 48 hours of conclusion of the trip. Type of information includes catch and discard data for each angler at the species level, areas fished, and time spent fishing.
   • Captains must schedule a FWC Study Fleet trip in FWC’s app and this trip MUST BE APPROVED BY FWC STAFF prior to departing on a FWC Study Fleet trip.
   • Once approved, captains must hail-in and hail-out for approved FWC Study Fleet trips and must coordinate with FWC staff so a biologist can take biological samples to catch at a public marina or dock.
3. Education requirement (coming soon): If selected, private captains and all anglers onboard their vessel must take an educational course before fishing in a FWC Study Fleet trip. For-hire captains must take the educational course before fishing in a FWC Study Fleet trip, but anglers on-board their vessel are only required to be briefed on Module 1 of the educational course by the charter captain prior to hooks in the water. 
4. Validation: If selected, captains will be required to coordinate with FWC staff prior to a Study Fleet trip so FWC biologists can collect biological samples (i.e., otoliths, fin clips for DNA, length/weight) from their snapper grouper catch at a public marina or dock. For validation purposes, on private recreational vessels, cameras will be placed on board and on charter vessels, observers may be placed on board.
5. Angler satisfaction survey: Participants must be willing to take a pre- and post-participation survey and be interviewed by FWC staff if needed.
6. Other requirements: Retain a copy of the EFP and SAL on-board the vessel used for FWC Study Fleet trips.

1. Hook and line only
2. Federal waters: descending devices are required to be rigged and ready
3. State waters: descending devices or venting tools rigged and ready, descending device and/or venting tool must be used if fish is experiencing barotrauma.

Atlantic red snapper is currently overfished and undergoing overfishing according to the most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 73).

It’s an alternative management strategy that FWC will test during these studies to reduce dead discards. Selected participants will be allowed to harvest 15 different snapper grouper species (outlined below), and they will be required to stop bottom fishing once the snapper grouper aggregate bag limit is reached.

Note: Red snapper is excluded from the aggregate bag limit AND participants must follow all current state and federal seasons and bag limits for the species below.

The aggregate bag limit is as follows:

• Only 1 fish can be a gag, black, or scamp grouper
• Up to 2 fish can be red, yellowfin, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind, or rock hind grouper
• Only 1 fish can be a red porgy, blueline tilefish, or golden tilefish
• Only 1 fish can be greater amberjack
• Up to 3 fish can be lesser amberjack, almaco jack, or banded rudderfish
• Up to 5 fish can be black sea bass
• Up to 5 fish can be gray triggerfish
• Up to 10 fish can be grunts
• Up to 10 fish can be Atlantic spadefish or bar jack
• Up to 10 fish can be porgies (red porgy excluded)
• Up to 10 can be schoolmaster, gray, lane, yellowtail, queen, silk, or blackfin snapper
• Up to 5 can be vermilion, cubera, or mutton snapper

A fish that is caught alive, but later dies after it is released. Fish are often discarded due to regulatory requirements (e.g., out of season, bag or size limits, etc.) 

The FWC manages fisheries in Florida’s Atlantic state waters (shore to 3 nautical miles (nm)), and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries manage fisheries such as reef fish in South Atlantic federal waters (from 3 nm to as far as 200 nm).

For more information you can contact us at AtlanticEFP@myfwc.com or call (850) 901-5063.

Better science and understanding of our current red snapper fishery can lead to improved management. This includes collecting better catch and discard data directly from anglers and testing an innovative bag limit management strategy to reduce discards.

Hot Spot and SE Snapper Grouper Fleet: During the open application period, applicants must apply at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and participants will be selected via a random lottery.

FWC Study Fleet: During the open application period, applicants must complete the Study Fleet online application form, and all Study Fleet applications will be evaluated using Study Fleet criteria and participants will be selected by FWC staff.

No, participants may only be selected for one study per quarter.

Participants will receive preference points towards the Experimental Group in a future lottery if they complete EFP Fleet trips and report data as part of the Control Group in the Hot Spot Fleet and Southeast Snapper Grouper Fleet.

Yes, participants may apply for every quarter throughout the study.