CORRECTLY MEASURING SALTWATER FISH GETS EASIER

June 27, 2006
CONTACT: Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554

A standard way for anglers to measure saltwater fish accurately against size restrictions takes effect July 1. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is implementing a series of rules approved last year to clarify and standardize how to measure the total length of saltwater fish.

Saltwater fish are divided into two categories. Fish that have “flat” or irregularly shaped tails are measured by “total length.” Fish that have forked or angled tails are commonly measured by “fork length.”

New rules provide that saltwater fish that are regulated by total length must be measured by determining the straight-line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed together, while the fish is lying on its side.

This method is sometimes called “squeezing” or “pinching” the fish tail, which essentially involves measuring the maximum possible length of the fish.

The total length measurement is used to measure the snapper and grouper family, red and black drum, snook, spotted seatrout, weakfish, tripletail, bonefish, sheepshead, flounder and a variety of aquarium species (such as angelfish).

No change has been made to “fork length” fish, which should still be measured to the rear center edge, or “V,” of the tail. They include amberjacks and rudderfish, hogfish, dolphin, cobia, mullet, bluefish, king and Spanish mackerel, permit, pompano, African pompano and gray triggerfish.

More information on how to properly measure saltwater fish is available online at MyFWC.com/marine/Fishing_Measurement.htm.