The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Fisheries Administration is reaching out to deepwater snapper/grouper species fishermen to collect catch statistics. Catch data are needed to document your participation in this Mid-Atlantic deepwater fishery, which may be in jeopardy.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is currently developing Amendment 18 to the Snapper/Grouper Fishery Management Plan. This amendment will provide additional protection to a number of species experiencing over-fishing in the South Atlantic region. One of the preferred SAFMC management alternatives requires a prohibition on all fishing for, possession, and retention of all deepwater snapper/grouper species seaward of 40 fathoms. The SAFMC is currently proposing extending the boundaries northward for this management alternative to include Mid-Atlantic offshore waters.

The snapper/grouper complex includes 73 separate finfish species, most of which occur primarily in the South Atlantic region. However, a few species, such as groupers and blueline tilefish, may be seasonally abundant enough to support a recreational fishery in Mid-Atlantic offshore waters. The State of Virginia has documented a recently evolving recreational fishery on many of the species in the snapper/grouper complex, as well as commercial landings for a few of these species. Most of the effort in the Mid-Atlantic region for deepwater snapper/grouper species occurs in the Norfolk Canyon, with landings occurring primarily in Virginia and to a lesser extent in Maryland. This recently discovered Mid-Atlantic fishery for previously unexploited deepwater snapper/grouper species has yielded 22 all-tackle IGFA world records for Virginia anglers in the past three years.

The SAFMC management alternative to extend a fishing prohibition to Mid-Atlantic offshore waters has the potential to close an evolving fishery on species that may not be experiencing overfishing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is asking the SAFMC to recognize that Mid-Atlantic region exploitation levels on these species may differ significantly from levels in the South Atlantic region. The MAFMC is proposing the Mid-Atlantic region be considered a separate snapper/grouper species management unit under MAFMC management authority.

The MAFMC needs data to support its position on management of snapper/grouper species in the Mid-Atlantic region. The necessary data include Mid-Atlantic fishermen catch statistics for any of the snapper/grouper species listed below. Anglers who catch any of these species are urged to contact Peter Himchak with the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's Marine Fisheries Administration at 609-748-2020 or Peter.Himchak@dep.state.nj.us.

Mid-Atlantic angler catch statistics are needed for the following Snapper/Grouper Complex Species:

Snappers - Lutjanidae
Black snapper	Apsilus dentatus
Queen snapper	Etelis oculatus
Mutton snapper	Lutjanus analis
Schoolmaster	Lutjanus apodus
Blackfin snapper	Lutjanus buccanella
Red snapper	Lutjanus campechanus
Cubera snapper	Lutjanus cyanopterus
Gray snapper	Lutjanus griseus
Mahogany snapper	Lutjanus mahogoni
Dog snapper	Lutjanus jocu
Lane snapper	Lutjanus synagris
Silk snapper	Lutjanus vivanus
Yellowtail snapper	Ocyurus chrysurus
Vermillion snapper	Rhomboplites aurorubens

Sea Basses - Serranidae
Bank sea bass	Centropristis ocyurus
Rock sea bass	Centropristis philadelphica

Groupers - Serranidae
Rock hind	Epinephelus adscensionis
Graysby	Epinephelus cruentatus
Speckled hind	Epinephelus drummondhayi
Yellowedge grouper	Epinephelus flavolimbatus
Coney	Epinephelus fulva
Red hind	Epinephelus guttatus
Jewfish/Goliath	Epinephelus itajara
Red grouper	Epinephelus morio
Misty grouper	Epinephelus mystacinus
Warsaw grouper	Epinephelus nigritus
Snowy grouper	Epinephelus niveatus
Nassau grouper	Epinephelus striatus
Black grouper	Mycteroperca bonaci
Yellowmouth grouper	Mycteroperca interstitialis
Gag	Mycteroperca microlepis
Scamp	Mycteroperca phenax
Tiger grouper	Mycteroperca tigris
Yellowfin grouper	Mycteroperca venenosa

Porgies - Sparidae
Sheepshead	Archosargus probatocephalus
Grass porgy	Calamus arctifrons
Jolthead porgy	Calamus bajonado
Saucereye porgy	Calamus calamus
Whitebone porgy	Calamus leucosteus
Knobbed porgy	Calamus nodosus
Red porgy	Pagrus pagrus
Longspine porgy	Stenotomus caprinus

Grunts - Pomadasyidae
Black margate	Anisotremus surinamensis
Porkfish	Anisotremus virginicus
Margate	Haemulon album
Tomtate	Haemulon aurolineatum
Smallmouth grunt	Haemulon chyrsargyreum
French grunt	Haemulon flavolineatum
Spanish grunt	Haemulon macrostomum
Cottonwick	Haemulon melanurum
Sailor's choice	Haemulon parrai
White grunt	Haemulon plumieri
Bluestriped grunt	Haemulon sciurus

Tilefishes - Malacanthidae
Blueline tilefish	Caulolatilus microps
Tilefish (Golden)	Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Sand tilefish	Malacanthus plumieri

Triggerfishes - Balistidae
Gray triggerfish	Balistes capriscus
Queen triggerfish	Balistes vetula
Ocean triggerfish	Canthidermis sufflamen

Wrasses - Labridae
Hogfish	Lachnolaimus maximus
Puddingwife	Halichoeres radiatus

Jacks - Carangidae
Yellow jack	Caranx bartholomaei
Blue runner	Caranx crysos
Crevalle jack	Caranx hippos
Bar jack	Caranx ruber
Greater amberjack	Seriola dumerilli
Almaco jack	Seriola rivoliana
Banded rudderfish	Seriola zonata
Lesser amberjack	Seriola fasciata

Wreckfish - Polyprionidae
Wreckfish	Polyprion americanus