Dolphinfish and Wahoo Get New Catch Rules in Caribbean Waters
Published Date: 6/25/2025
Rule
Summary
Fishermen and fish lovers in Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John will see new rules for catching dolphinfish and wahoo. These rules set minimum sizes and limits on how many fish you can keep, helping fish grow up and stay healthy. The changes start soon and aim to protect fish for the future without hurting your fishing fun.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Commercial minimum size limits
If you fish dolphinfish or wahoo commercially in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters (Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John), new minimum size limits now apply to your catch. These rules change what sizes of dolphinfish and wahoo commercial operations are allowed to keep.
Protecting dolphinfish and wahoo
The rule aims to ensure dolphinfish and wahoo have enough time to mature and reproduce and to help protect against overfishing in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters. These conservation measures are intended to support future availability of these species.
Recreational bag and size limits
If you fish for dolphinfish or wahoo recreationally in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters (Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John), new minimum size limits and recreational bag and possession limits apply to your catch. The rules set how many fish you can keep and the minimum size they must be.
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Key Dates
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