Section 622.11(a) provides the general applicability for bag and possession limits.
(a) King mackerel and Spanish mackerel -
(1) Bag limits.
(i) Atlantic migratory group king mackerel -
(A) Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic, other than off Florida - 3.
(B) Off Florida - 2, which is the daily bag limit specified by Florida for its waters (Rule 68B-12.004(1), Florida Administrative Code, in effect as of July 15, 1996 (incorporated by reference, see § 622.413). If Florida changes its limit, the bag limit specified in this paragraph (a)(1)(i)(B) will be changed to conform to Florida's limit, provided such limit does not exceed 5.
(ii) Gulf migratory group king mackerel - 3.
(iii) Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel - 15.
(iv) Gulf migratory group Spanish mackerel - 15.
(v) Coastal migratory pelagic fish within certain South Atlantic SMZs - § 622.11(a) notwithstanding, all harvest and possession of coastal migratory pelagic fish within the South Atlantic SMZs specified in § 622.182(a)(1)(i) through (xi) and (a)(1)(xxii) through (xxxix) is limited to the bag limits specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section.
(2) Possession limits -
(i) Possession limits for vessels with a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish. A person who is on a trip that spans more than 24 hours may possess no more than two daily bag limits, provided such trip is on a vessel that is operating as a charter vessel or headboat, the vessel has two licensed operators aboard, and each passenger is issued and has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the length of the trip.
(ii) Possession limits for vessels with a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf coastal migratory pelagic fish. A person who is on a trip that spans more than 30 hours may possess, at any time during the trip, no more than two daily bag limits of Gulf king and Spanish mackerel, provided such trip is on a vessel that is operating as a charter vessel or headboat, the vessel has two licensed operators aboard, each passenger is issued and has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the date and time of departure and length of the trip, and the entire trip occurs on days when the harvest and possession of the applicable coastal migratory pelagic species are allowed.
(b) [Reserved]
[78 FR 22952, Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 82 FR 17397, Apr. 11, 2017; 82 FR 36347, Aug. 4, 2017; 84 FR 4736, Feb. 19, 2019; 86 FR 11155, Feb. 24, 2021; 87 FR 23150, Apr. 19, 2022]