blue groper size limit nsw. 5 10-The eastern blue groper isn’t always blue — females are a reddish brown. blue groper size limit nsw

 
 5 10-The eastern blue groper isn’t always blue — females are a reddish brownblue groper size limit nsw At a 2021 symposium in Narooma, researchers, marine industries and citizen scientists formed the view that natural urchin predators – blue groper, snapper and lobster – can no longer control

An adult Queensland Groper. There’s a minimum legal length of 30cm with only one of your two permitted fish allowed to measure 60cm or more. Western Blue Groper also grow to a larger size and live longer than their eastern relatives. It was made the Fish Emblem of NSW in 1996 and then promoted to the states Marine Emblem in 2000. The groper is listed as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss and overfishing in the 1900s. There is a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish can be taken over 60cm. Cure, K. Size. Eastern blue gropers. Investigations in other regions, including Western Australia, indicate that the species attains a large size (up to 200 cm total length, TL; Roberts 1989) and weight (up to. There is a mixed species demersal scalefish boat limit of 4 in the West Coast Bioregion. Size Maximum of close to 50 kg and a length of over 1 m. Populations along the west coast have declined and the species is rarely sighted in the Perth area. Jan. Groper Blue, Red/Brown 30 cm, only 1 over 60 cm 2 by line only Hairtail – 10 Leatherjackets – 20 in total* Luderick 27 cm 10Line fishing is the only legal method for taking Eastern (blue, red or brown) groper in NSW. The NSW Government has previously declared the Eastern blue groper the state emblem fish of NSW. Video: size limitsAdult Eastern Blue Groper in a kelp forest [Credit: Dione Deaker]. Declining numbers led to a total capture ban for around 15 years and today anglers can keep a limit of two. There is a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish can be taken over 60cm. The colour is very variable with adults: males a vivid. Scientific name. COMMON NAME: Eastern Blue Groper Western Blue Groper SCIENTIFIC NAME: Achoerodus viridis Achoerodus gouldii FAMILY: Labridae. This process is clearly as difficult as it sounds – these fish turn blue in the process and pile on the kilos. The diet of this species consists of. A 50 year old South Coast man was fined $9,000 in Batemans Bay Local Court last week for spearing a Blue Groper, taking more than the daily limit of lobsters and possessing undersize Eastern Rock Lobster. You cannot fish for Western Blue Groper at any time in: Spencer Gulf; Gulf St Vincent; Investigator Straight; Backstairs Passage. gov means it’s official. But this only happens to the dominant female in any group, so most remain brown all their lives. Regional size limits apply. Please note: The following table has fork length measurements. Males are a rich deep blue colour with small yellow spots around the eyes. Season: Open all year---No minimum size requirement. gov. There is a combined recreational bag limit of five and a boat limit of ten Hapuku, Banded Rockcod, Bass Groper, Gemfish and Blue-eye Trevalla. Wrasses are generally much smaller than gropers and it is thought the large size of the western blue is the reason behind its ‘groper’ name. FINES and penalties issued by an Esperance Court last week serve to remind spear fishers to adhere to size and bag limits. Marine pollution is another problem as it limits the amount of food available to them. 94/053. The ledge under the skillion for one. University of Sydney researchers spotted the juvenile blue gropers in four remnant oyster reefs in NSW, including Bermagui and Crookhaven in south NSW, and Towra Point and Port Hacking in south Sydney. The average male platypus is about 50 centimetres long (head to tail) while females measure about 43 centimetres. Fisheries officers apprehended the man at Kioloa, north of Batemans Bay, during an operation targeting. For any enquirers relating to spearfishing safety and education in public areas please visit the spearfishing safety education action plan. It remains illegal to spear them. harming any threatened or protected species in NSW. Labridae Achoerodus viridis (Steindachner, 1866) Eastern Blue Groper J. trace between the two hooks. There is a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish can be taken over 60cm. It’s not really a groper at all, rather a large wrasse that grows to around 1m and 18kg. e. Reduces total take. Bag and size limits for Queensland - fresh waters Author: Sacha Kitson Subject: These are the bag and size limits for freshwater fish species in Queensland Keywords: freshwater fish,. New minimum legal length limits for pearl perch, yellowtail kingfish, luderick (blackfish) dolphin fish (mahi-mahi), blue groper and morwong. 49 Taking of groper 39 50 Jagging or foul hooking of fish. Posted Wed 22 Feb 2023 at 9:39pm, updated Thu 23. Max Size: 100 cm. Gunnamatta Bay (Port Hacking) Gunnamatta Bay is another prominent place to fish in NSW. Defence--taking of mullet for bait Division 2 - Bag limits 8. The Eastern Blue Groper (EBG; Figures 1-2) is a large long lived wrasse that isAnglers may harvest 1 black grouper as part of their 3 grouper aggregate limit. They occur on coral reefs in turbid areas as well as in brackish environments. The groper’s distribution is widespread, touching South Australia, east and north coasts of Tasmania, and the entire eastern seaboard of Victoria and NSW. Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit. Achoerodus viridis (Eastern Blue Groper) is an iconic fish species in eastern Australia, and particularly in the state of New South Wales (NSW) where it is the state marine emblem due to its popularity and social impor-tance. Season: Open all year. Groper are good eating but I have a strict policy of only keeping the smaller ones. Nonetheless, the species is still of conservation concern due to ongoing fishing interactions (Baker 2012. The fisherman appeared in Maclean Local Court last week, pleading guilty to spearfishing the groper in April 2013, possessing six groper when the limit is two and possessing two over 60cm when only one can exceed that size. Silvers are a challenge to eat and most people I know release them. It’s a very attractive fish that in some locations, such as Sydney’s Clovelly Bay, has become tame enough to be hand fed by snorkelers. The minimum legal size limit for retention (commercial and recreational) is 40 cm, which is above the length at sexual maturity of about 29 cm. NSW Recreational SALTwater Fishing Guide. Adnate, 39, said the striking blue fish, which can reach up to one metre, and also stands as NSW’s fish emblem, is. Maximum penalties by way of court prosecution for an individual are $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment for a first offence relating to size and bag limits, and $11,000 for taking a groper by. Fisheries officers apprehended the man at Kioloa, north of Batemans Bay, during an operation targeting lobster theft. Colour: Vertical broad dark bars, the first on. Size (cm) Bag Limit (per person) Boat Limit * (per boat)-2. The colour for Bass Groper varies from dark grey to steely blue, with or without silvery blotches. The western blue groper is not actually a groper (Family Serranidae) at all, but a member of the wrasse family (Labridae). DOI: 10. Remember there is bag limits on crabs and sea urchins too. "Penalties may include a $500 on-the-spot fine per offence for taking a groper by any method other than a line or handline, possession of prohibited size or exceeding the bag limit. Groper cannot be speared and have been protected from spear fishing since 1969. 107 Province by PCSD which have size limit not less than 32 to 47. Coral trout. - A minimum legal length of 30cm will be introduced for blue groper. A two-month ban and bag limits were introduced in 2010 as part of a 20-year plan to address overfishing, but a. It’s not really a groper at all, rather a large wrasse that grows to around 1m and 18kg. Maybe a better strategy would be to halve the bag limit. 5 10-The eastern blue groper isn’t always blue — females are a reddish brown. PENALTY. Scale fish: The legal size of fish must be checked at the first available opportunity. Maximum Size: 120cm NSW Record: 19. A bag limit of one will also apply to each species of marlin. "Blue Groper can be only fished by using a rod and line or a handline and there is a bag limit of two Blue Groper per day, only one of which can be longer than 60 centimetres. I was once told that one blue (Male ) groper services up to two. In the South Atlantic: Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Possession Limit: The possession limit is the maximum number of fish per person if you have been fishing for more than one day, which is equal to twice the daily bag limit, unless otherwise stated in the table. The final rule reduces the commercial trip limit from 300 to 100 pounds gutted. Giant Queensland gropers are one of the largest of all bony fishes, reaching lengths of up to 3 m and weighing about 600 kg. 2 m in length. - The new size limit will protect females prior to maturity. Season: Open all year. They don’t grow as big as Black Grouper, usually maxing out somewhere around 50 pounds. Total. Bag and size limits can be found in our Recreational fishing guide or accessed through the online recreational fishing rules website - rules. Characteristics Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips and large peg-like teeth. The blue groper has been the official fish of NSW since 1996. • If you have an otter trawl net (fish) or Danish seine net (fish) on board your boat you must not take Silver trevally. Queensland Groper, Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch, 1790). Adult Eastern Blue Groper in a kelp forest [Credit: Dione Deaker]. 6-15. Characteristics - Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips & large peg-like teeth. Distribution. Fishers lose access to resource. "Penalties may include a $500 on-the-spot fine per offence for taking a groper by any method other than a line or handline, possession of prohibited size or exceeding the bag limit. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or hmspermits. University of Sydney researchers. Species Catch Limit 2021/22 (tonnes) Bass Grouper 6. These fish mature as females between 24 and 34cm and change sex to males at about 60cm. The same rules and regulations regarding bag and size limits apply to spearfishers, including. To assist us with the research project, fishers are being asked to voluntarily stop taking eastern blue groper throughout the reserve as well as in adjacent waters between June 2009 and 31 July 2010. Video of a large Queensland Grouper at the Gold Coast Seaway - by Ian Banks. These fish mature as females between 24 and 34cm, and change sex to males at about 60cm. Feeding. NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp. Sydney NSW 2010. Characteristics - Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips & large peg-like teeth. Source: John Turnbull / Flickr. The new size limit will protect females prior to maturity. au where you can search for recreational fishing rules by species and location. The mottled colouration blends with the surroundings, providing good camouflage for ambush hunting. “Maximum prosecution penalties for an individual are $22,000 and or six months in jail for a first violation of size and baggage limits, and $11,000 for unlawfully grabbing groper. A 7-10 foot rod with fast action and medium-heavy power is ideal for blue groper fishing. Fish include tuna, shark, trevallay, snapper, marlin, mackerel and flathead etc. Despite the name, the Eastern Blue Groper is not a groupers, but a wrasse. See the bag and size limits which apply to these species in the following Fin Fish Bag and Size Limits Section (pages 65-75). HMS permit required in federal waters. 0455 445 566. Juvenile Eastern Blue Gropers ('blue groper'), the state fish of New South Wales, have been recorded living on endangered oyster reefs for the first time. 4. It can be up to a metre long and weigh between 2 and 15kg, though some specimens may reach 40kg or more. 60 and 28. Personal daily bag limit: 1. MALE: Males have fleshy lips and are a blue or blue-green colour. noaa. In NSW spearfishers must pay a NSW recreational fishing fee. Legal length: Minimum length of fish unless otherwise stated. A boat limit of four demersal scalefish per vessel. Groper are good eating but I have a strict policy of only keeping the smaller ones. The Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are enclaves within the state. 0 app via the App Store or Google Play. At the sites where A. SPEARING NSW's official state fish has landed a fisherman $3660 in fines and court costs after he was convicted of killing six blue groper on the north coast. There is a bag limit of 2 Groper per day. Size of the weight will be determined by the depth of water and weather conditions at the time. The colour is very variable with adults: males a vivid blue, females reddish brown and the juveniles a greyish brown, brownish orange or green. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. 2 fish = 1 baldchin groper + 1 pink snapper; OR; 2 fish = 2 pink snapper. blue groper in WA Not what it seems The western blue groper is not actually a groper (Family Serranidae) at all, but a member of the wrasse family (Labridae). A key aspect of equitable management of the world’s fishery resources is the provision of traditional fishing access for Indigenous peoples. Species Citation Summary: A greenish-grey or rusty brown tuskfish with a large pale patch below the rear of the dorsal fin, blue fin margins with distinctive blue tips on the caudal-fin lobes, and an irregular pale bluish bar along the chin. The ‘big blue’ is the dominant male and the squadron of smaller brown or red groper. Fish include tuna, shark, trevallay, snapper, marlin, mackerel and flathead etc. The bag limit is 2, and there is no size limit. Fishing is permitted in NSW however a bag limit and local fishing rules apply. 10. By 1980 the sale of Eastern Blue Groper was made illegal and there is an $11,000 fine if you are caught spearing a Blue Groper. For the following species or species groupings; Australian Bass and Estuary Perch, Bream and. 80 for having speared five western blue groper (three of which were found to be undersize) when the offender’s catch was checked by Fisheries and Marine Officers. There is a size limit of 30 cm (only 1 of which can be longer than 60 cm). 1-6. Albacore and skipjack tuna. Illustration by Pat Tully. 4. The best time to see one is at dawn or dusk when they are more active. The man. Queensland groper. Related. It forages on organisms like urchins using its very powerful jaws. Season is currently open. Meet the groper Groper on the NSW coast are prolific and there’s been a change from the mid 1960s where it was exploited by anglers, spear fishers and commercial gill netting until the. I release all the big Blues. NSW Fisheries Compliance Director Glenn Tritton said today such blatant disregard for the rules was "extremely disappointing" when blue groper had been protected from spearfishing for almost 45 years. An assortment of size 0 – 1 ball sinkers is sufficient along with hooks from No 1 – 2/0 size with a turn-in or out-eye to make a Snell connection on the shank as easy as possible. Fish – Bag and size limits. by line only. About half the size of a household cat, adult males and females can differ greatly in size and weight. Undersize fish must be released immediately. Using equipment in inland (freshwater) waters; Illegal fishing equipment; Bait and berley; Waters with fishing restrictions. Characteristics Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips and large peg-like teeth. Vessel limit applies, see page 8. . Required length - Only 1 over 35 cm. Fish sizes and bag limits for salt water fishing in New South Wales. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. /common) | max 10 | size: only 1 greater than 70 cm, all others a min of 36 cm Flathead (sand/tiger) | max 20 (in total) | size: 33 cm (min) Groper (blue, red/brown. These giants can reach a maximum length of 8 feet and a maximum weight of about 800 pounds. Size Range The species grows to at least 2. A BERMAGUI man has been fined $800 and had his dive gear seized for spearing and filleting an Eastern blue groper (Achoerodus viridis) on the NSW South Coast. Blue swimmer. 1 - May 31. Prior to its listing as a protected species in the early 1980s, the Queensland Groper was much sought after by line and spearfishers in New South Wales. "Blue Groper can be only fished by using a rod and line or a handline and there is a bag limit of two Blue Groper per day, only one of which can be longer than 60 centimetres. Blue swimmer crabs reach the minimum legal size at almost 10 months of age and can grow to a maximum size in excess of 9. Some individuals have about 5 indistinct vertical saddles along the back, or a broad pale bar behind the head. 805 m southerly from the northern extremity of. Report illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or online via DPI website:. Attaining a maximum size of around 25kg and 1. 2 million pounds, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database. SPEARING NSW's official state fish. There are plenty of good spots around Terrigal. Vessel limit applies, see the note about vessel limits at the bottom of this page. Removal of size limits for WA Dhufish, Baldchin Groper and Breaksea Cod to limit barotrauma. The removal of the WA dhufish boat limit, so an individual angler can catch up to two WA dhufish. 001; Fig. Their results have been published in the journal. To be closely monitored by NSW DPI. There is a bag limit of 2 Groper per day. catch, suitable to detect a change in mean size of fish caught and particularly. A greyish rockcod covered in irregular fine dark spots and slightly larger black spots. Silver Drummer (Kyphosus sydneyanus) are found on coastal reefs in NSW, South Australia and southern Western Australia. Remove upper size limit One size limit of 60cm in open area. In NSW, gropers can only be taken via line legitimately. Bag limit - 5. Specimens have been recorded at depths up to 100 m. 50 Jagging or foul hooking of fish (1) A person must not take fish by the method of jagging. Juveniles have a large blotched and banded pattern, but as adults become mottled and spotted to evenly dark grey or brownish. The Blue Groper or Achoerodus Virdis is a species of wrasse that’s found along the east coast of Australia. 2 metres in length and weigh up to 22 kilograms, living as long as 35 years. FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PAPER NO. View the Blue Groper closure area on the map (PDF 632. Fisheries officers were carrying out surveillance on a group of divers from a nearby headland and observed the man removing a groper from the end of a spear. Eastern Blue Groper have 41-45 pored lateral line scales, and 9-10. Size limits The Blue Swimmer Crab size limit is 6. NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith. For each species of fish not listed a bag limit of 5 applies. 24 inches in total length. Followers 0. (Richardson 1846) A Purple Rockcod, Epinephelus cyanopodus, Shiprock, Port Hacking, New South Wales, 28 October 2015. The species is named for the noted Australian naturalist John Gould. "The species can grow to around 15kg and one metre in length. Slurp guns may be used to take finfish except that bag and possession limits shall not be exceeded wherever they apply and no species of finfish may be taken for which a minimum size limit has been established (see Sections 27. NSW DPI Fisheries have reminded anglers and skindivers that groper – red or blue, are fully protected from. Catch and release of large cod will be permitted. There is a mixed species demersal scalefish boat limit of 4 in the West Coast Bioregion. Bag limits of zero (0) - if caught please return these species carefully to the water. Marine fishing equipment. If you are looking at compiling a list of the top 10 best fishing spots in NSW, you can include Gunnamatta Bay. Many people also incorrectly refer to them as Parrot fish. 1 to Aug. Seven t of the 2019 catch were landed in the WCB. It was made the Fish Emblem of NSW in 1996 and then promoted to the states Marine Emblem in 2000. 45. Vessel limit applies, see the note about vessel limits at the bottom of this page. Groper on the NSW coast are prolific and there’s been a change from the mid 1960s where it was exploited by anglers, spear fishers and commercial gill netting until the protection order in the ‘70s and the prohibition of their sale in 1980. For bag and size limit information, please visit the bag and size limits section. One of the largest species of tuskfish, it has protruding tusk-like teeth in both jaws and can reach about 90 cm in length and 7 kg in weight. Size and Bag Limits - NSW Salt Water Fin Fish. Removing size limits for demersal fish with high post-release mortality rates, and Education programs to "support fisher behavioural change towards responsible fishing practices" Painful but neededSize and bag limits Australian bass & estruary perch | max 2 | size: only 1 greater than 35 cm. The Blue Groper is among the two percent of all bony fish species that are hermaphrodites. Blue groper fish are large and powerful so you need a rod and reel that can handle the weight and strength of the fish. It’s best to check this website to clarify the borders of your LGA. Fishers Guide to fish species of New South Wales region – Camtas publication UPDATE 2020 Size 61x88cm Identifies 222 beautifully illustrated fresh and salt water species fish, crustaceans and more Browse over images and learn names, bag limits, legal sizes, habitat and eating qualities and more Species include: EstuWestern Blue Groper . The adult males have the bright blue colouring that give the fish their name. Groper are dark blue-grey or grey-brown on the upper body and a white belly. "Maximum penalties by way of court prosecution for an individual are $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment for a first offence relating to size and bag limits, and $11,000 for taking groper by an. Identifying features. Which derives from the aqua, blue coloured spine and other internal bones of the fish. Total. Daily bag limit 1. Freshwater bag and size limits. It is the responsibility of the licenceBlue groper facts. In 2022, recreational harvest totaled 3. A sturdy-bodied fish with a large, squarish tail that can grow to over one metre in length. Five marine pots or dillies per person. Length: Up to 1 m. The western blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii) is the largest resident reef fish in southern Australian coastal waters (Bryars et al. For further information on the symbols of New South Wales, please contact. 1 - Apr. 1002/ecy. Coastline waves and currents send massive quantities of fish in your direction. 1. Juvenile Eastern Blue Gropers (‘blue groper’), the state fish of New South Wales, have been recorded living on endangered oyster reefs for the first. Bass Groper : Saltwater Brook Trout: Freshwater Brown Trout: Freshwater Beach Worm: Saltwater Bigeye Tuna: Saltwater Black Bream: Saltwater Blacklip Abalone: Saltwater Blue-eye Trevalla: Saltwater Blue Groper: Saltwater. Modify commercial fishing seasons, trip limits, and minimum size limits. Reduces total take. Minimum size None. Wiki User. Please note, the exemption is subject to strict conditions, including the collection of information on the take of permitted Wrasse species. They are found in the coastal waters of southern Australia and distinguished by the bright blue colouring of the adult males. In the North Coast bioregion. Eastern Blue Groper, Achoerodus viridis (Steindachner, 1866). Bag limit (1), boat limit (2) in open area. seasons, bag limits, size limits or closures for tunas, billfishes, and sharks contact NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division 800-894-5528. Restrictions also apply to commercial fisheries elsewhere in Western Australia. The fins are dark, and light blue dots cover the entire body. Australian Bass. Billfish including swordfish, marlin. I release all the big Blues. 32, df = 1, 110, p < 0. Habitat The Western Blue Groper lives in coastal reefs down to a depth of 40However, they are residential in nature, live in small groups, mature as green-coloured females at 15-20 years and change sex to blue-coloured males at about 82cm in length and 30 years. University of Sydney researchers spotted the juvenile blue gropers in four remnant oyster reefs in NSW, including Bermagui and Crookhaven in south NSW, and Towra Point and Port Hacking in. Location: Central Coast NSW; Share; Posted May 26, 2011. 2 ). 0 mm Notochord flexion 5. Outside the Reserve, anglers have a bag limit of one Blue Groper, with a minimum size limit of 50cm. From juvenile through to adult Reduce bag & boat limits in open area e. Fishing rules at your fingertips – download the free Qld Fishing 2. The western blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii) is the largest permanent-resident reef teleost in southern Australian. Estuary cod habitat is located in a number of protected areas in NSW including the Solitary Islands Marine Park, Julian Rocks Aquatic Reserve and Cook Island Aquatic Reserve. Species with a specific boat limit. Maximum Size: 120cm NSW Record: 19. No demographic information is available for Bass Groper in NSW. A Bermagui man has been fined $800 and had his dive gear seized for spearing and filleting an Eastern Blue Groper on the South Coast. Maximum legal length: 100 cm measured from tip of snout to tip of tail. Gag Grouper. The legal length for rubberlip morwong has been increased by 2cm to 30cm and the bag limit reduced to 10. 31; from Sept. NSW DPI Fisheries. viridis were recorded (Bermagui, Crookhaven, Towra Point), observations of juvenile blue groper were common, occurring in 29. . There is a bag and possession limit of two fish. Meet the groper . . The eastern blue groper is a species of wrasse and, once endangered, has made a strong recovery from over-fishing as a result of laws of the state, limiting exploitation of the species. Diet consists of crabs, prawns, shellfish and sea urchins. There is a bag and possession limit of two fish. The Blue Groper is among the two percent of all bony fish species that are hermaphrodites. NSW Department of Primary Industries, August 2020 . "Maximum penalties by way of court prosecution for an individual are $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment for a first offence relating to size and bag limits, and. FINES and penalties issued by an Esperance Court last week serve to remind spear fishers to adhere to size and bag limits. Measure fish from tip of snout with mouth closed, to the end of the tail. "In 1998, the blue groper was declared the emblem fish of NSW, joining other State emblems such as the waratah, platypus and kookaburra. University of Sydney researchers spotted the juvenile blue gropers in four remnant oyster reefs in NSW, including Bermagui and Crookhaven in south NSW, and Towra Point and Port Hacking in south Sydney. (General) Amendment (Prohibited Size Fish and Bag Limits) Regulation 2007 Amendments Schedule 1 2007 No 374 [11] Clause 9, Part 5 of Table 1 Omit the Part. 6 out of 5, with 41 ratings and reviews on Untappd. 6 mm Formation of fins:. adhere to the legal limits of two fish with a minimum size of 30cm and only one. there can only be a maximum of 20 blue swimmer crabs on board. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmania or Victoria. World record: 80 lb, 6 oz – Destin, FL. “A search was carried out and the man was allegedly found to be in possession of 15 eastern blue groper, ranging in size from 35. Hatching <3. Coastline waves and currents send massive quantities of fish in your direction. Queensland Groper or a Goldspotted Rockcod in NSW. 2 m in length. 1-Jan. 16 November 2022. However, because the eastern blue groper only attains one metre in length (18 kilos), whereas the western variety grows to a whopping 1. Commonly known as “Grey Grouper,” these guys are a staple of reef fishing trips around the Gulf and up the Atlantic. 0. Transporting, selling and trading of hatchery-bred or captive-bred grouper fry 110 are allowed.