There is a bag limit of 2 Groper per day. 5. Iconic species such as blue groper, cuttlefish and wobbegong sharks inhabit the Reserve and protected species such as seadragons, elegant wrasse and black rockcod also occur here. Included in the 3 grouper aggregate daily bag limit. "They are territorial, which is why Gus stays around Oak Park," she said. Click for a larger PDF. A REVIEW OF SIZE LIMITS FOR FINFISH IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA . seasons, bag limits, size limits or closures for tunas, billfishes, and sharks contact NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division 800-894-5528. My first attempt at fishing for blue groper off the rocks. These fish mature as females between 24 and 34cm and change sex to males at about 60cm. Huge groper/hapuka. 24" fork length Daily Recreational Bag Limit: • 2 per harvester, not to exceed 2 per vessel. noaa. Characteristics - Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips & large peg-like teeth. A copy of the exemption is enclosed. Groper are good eating but I have a strict policy of only keeping the smaller ones. The species is also commonly referred to as Tuskies and blue bone. C. Their bodies are robust and the head is pointed with a protruding lower jaw. Species. Report illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or online via DPI website:. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 or hmspermits. 30. RELATED'The bag limit for Blue Groper is two per person, with only one longer than 60cm,' he said. FEMALE: Brown with random light spotting/blotches. 1002/ecy. baldchin groper released are under the minimum size limit. 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. Information on bag and size limits and legal fishing gear can be obtained atJan. Or, you can opt for a compressed gas pneumatic powered speargun. Maybe a better strategy would be to halve the bag limit. Keep west of. Groper, blue, red or brown Achoerodus viridis 30 Flounders and Soles Species of Families Bothidae, Pleuronectidae, Cynoglossidae and. Combined limit of 7 in total of all trout species. These species, along with many other demersal scalefish species, are known to have high post-release mortality rates. Males have a blue body while females have a brownish body. au. 2021. Size limit Spatial closures. · A maximum size limit of 75cm for Murray Cod to provide protection for large breeding fish. There’s a minimum legal length of 30cm with only one of your two permitted fish allowed to measure 60cm or more. Blue Groper can only be fished with a cane and a line or hand line, and there is a pocket limit of two Blue Groper per day, of which only one can be longer. Max Size: 100 cm. Achoerodus is a genus of wrasses collectively known as blue gropers. These fish mature as females between 24 and 34cm, and change sex to males at about 60cm. Groper has a firm white flesh with few bones. It covers an area of approximately 40 hectares and includes 4,000m of coastline. Recreational fishing rules. Yellowtail Kingfish. Freshwater bag and size limits. by line only. Steely-grey, much darker above and on the outer margins of the fins. 2 mm Settlement 7. Distribution. Video: size limitsAdult Eastern Blue Groper in a kelp forest [Credit: Dione Deaker]. . Publishers, Fisheries Research Institute, NSW Fisheries. They are slow-growing fish and take five to seven years to reach 40 cm in length. Followers 0. The males are a rich deep blue colour with small yellow spots around the eyes. Etymology. Vessel limit applies, see the note about vessel limits at the bottom of this page. 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. 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. au where you can search for recreational fishing rules by species and location. 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,. Billfish p. Continue reading this article to find out how big various grouper species are, what the smallest grouper. 2 m in length. 8 m (6 ft) grouper swallowed a 1. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. 5 kg of fillets from any species, plus 5 kg of fillets from large pelagic finfish (must have skin attached for identification purposes); OR one days bag limit of. THE BLUE GROPER IN NSW The eastern blue groper, Åchoerodus viridis, is one of. "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. Juveniles are brown to green brown. The Blue Groper is among the two percent of all bony fish species that are hermaphrodites. The Western Blue Groper is a protogynous hermaphrodite (some change sex from female to male) that can reach ~40 kg, with exceptional longevity (71 years), slow growth rate, late onset of sexual maturity (~17 years) at a large total length (~65 cm), very late sex change (age ~35 years) at a very large total length (~82 cm), and highly variable inter-annual. 16 Defence—blue drummer taken from Lord Howe Island waters 22. 4 cm CL, respectively. It is the second largest wrasse after the Humphead. 280 . 5 cm carapace length (CL) and live for up to 3 years. Log this species wherever it is spotted in Tasmania or Victoria. . It has a large stocky body with big scales, prominent fleshy lips and peg-like teeth. * to 28 March in 2024 to accommodate Easter The groper dilemma. University of Sydney researchers. Giant Queensland gropers are one of the largest of all bony fishes, reaching lengths of up to 3 m and weighing about 600 kg. 7cm to 65cm,” the Minister said. Vessel limit applies, see page 8. It remains illegal to spear them. Using equipment in marine waters; Inland fishing equipment. 6 mm Formation of fins:. catch, suitable to detect a change in mean size of fish caught and particularly. Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. View the Blue Groper closure area on the map (PDF 632. The 6 Groper and the man’s diving gear were seized and retained as evidence. Credit: James Brickwood Bluey was thrust into the spotlight in 2002, when he was "murdered" by an unknown spear fisherman. At the Abrolhos Islands the possession limit is: bag limit of 1 demersal scalefish; and bag limit of 1 large pelagic finfish; and 1 day's bag limit for all other finfish species; OR. Platypuses are dark brown on their backs and generally light brown on their bellies. Remember there is bag limits on crabs and sea urchins too. Are spear guns legal in NSW? (3) A person must not supply a spear gun to a person under the age. The new size limit will protect females prior to maturity. Gurnard - Latchet. Characteristics Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips and large peg-like teeth. Otolith chemistry of 165–256 mm SL blue groper in coastal waters of central NSW has also been examined. 31 recreational season for gag grouper in all state waters of the Gulf excluding Franklin, Wakulla, Taylor and Jefferson counties (which have their own season from April 1. 5 centimeters (TL). In the North Coast bioregion. - The new size limit will protect females prior to maturity. ∙ 11y ago. Characteristics - Yellow lines around eyes, prominent fleshy lips & large peg-like teeth. Size. There is a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish can be taken over 60cm. Size limits allow fish to reach maturity to complete their breeding cycle. Size limits on takes: Minimum size 30cm: Possession limits on takes: 6 combined limit. • A minimum legal length of 30cm will be introduced for blue groper. Big flathead can produce millions of eggs per year (700 eggs per gram of body weight) and contrary to popular myth, those eggs are. wa. Groper. Source: John Turnbull / Flickr. A minimum legal length of 30cm will be introduced for blue groper. 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. 6 cm and 4. viridis were recorded (Bermagui, Crookhaven, Towra Point), observations of juvenile blue groper were common, occurring in 29. Maximum weight of around 100 kg and 200 cm in length. It was made the NSW fish emblem in 1996. e. The bag limit for blue groper in NSW is two per person, with only one permitted to be longer than 60cm. Bioregion resourcesAchoerodus 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. From juvenile through to adultReduce bag & boat limits in open area e. trace between the two hooks. Industries emphasized that spearfishing and commercial fishing are prohibited on blue groupers. It shall be unlawful for any person to transfer at sea to another person or vessel any harvest of tilefish or grouper. com. DPI fisheries officers routinely patrol waterways, boat ramps and foreshores to advise anglers about responsible fishing practices and to ensure compliance with NSW fishing regulations. The thick-bodied blue gropers have peg teeth, heavy scales, large tails and thick lips. Gulf Grouper Aggregate Bag Limit – all species of grouper in the Gulf are included in a 4 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of grouper species. Application of bag limits to. 75 metres (40 kilos), it is thought that sexual transition and maturity may occur at a greater size with the western blue groper. "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. They can grow to 1. Can you catch blue groper in NSW? In NSW Groper can be only taken by using a rod and line or a handline Groper cannot be speared and have been protected from spear fishing since 1969. 11. NSW Dpi Fisheries ask that any illegal fishing is reported to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536. Discussion Paper . It was made the Fish Emblem of NSW in 1996 and then promoted to the states Marine Emblem in 2000. Scale fish: The legal size of fish must be checked at the first available opportunity. Distribution. They can still be taken by recreational line fishers, however there is a bag limit of two fish per day. harming any threatened or protected species in NSW. DOI: 10. Video of a large Queensland Grouper at the Gold Coast Seaway - by Ian Banks. 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 stateInformation on bag and size limits and legal fishing gear can be obtained at . Line fishing is the only legal method for taking Eastern (Blue Red or Brown) Groper in NSW. '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. 16 August 2023. Gunnamatta Bay (Port Hacking) This epic jetty in The Shire easily ranks among the best fishing spots in Sydney. A local born and bred fisho, that has been fishing for them for years, offered to teach me how to. This harmless groper can grow to a maximum size of 175 cm. There is a bag and possession limit of two fish. THE state fish of NSW is the eastern blue groper. NSW – Spearfishing prohibited but angling permitted with a bag limit of 2 fish over 30cms with only 1 fish allowed over 60cm Western Blue Groper: Vulnerable (IUCN – global rating) WA – Daily bag limit of 1 fish over 50cms permittedSize - Maximum of close to 50kg and a length of over 1m. The closure protects crab breeding stocks,. NSW Department of Primary Industries, August 2020 . Can you keep blue groper? Groper cannot be taken and/or sold by any method of commercial fishing. A large fish reaching a standard length of about 1. 7 m in length and over 400 kg. Cod and groper 5 Yes 120cm maximum length. Adult males occupied a home range which at several sites was estimated to vary from 4 000 to 16 000 m2. The harvest of up to 200 goliath grouper per year, with harvest opportunities awarded via random-draw lottery with a maximum of one permit and tag per person per year. Develop alternative fi shing strategies: encourage fi shermen to catch other species of fi sh. Adults (maximum length 1. Line fishing is the only legal method for taking Eastern (Blue Red or Brown) Groper in NSW. The species is named for the noted Australian naturalist John Gould. They can still be taken by recreational line fishers, however there is a bag limit of two fish per day. Many fish are being removed from the system before they have the opportunity to spawn. 107 Province by PCSD which have size limit not less than 32 to 47. For luderick, upsizing is also a common practice, with smaller individuals released. 108 109 d. They greet you upon entering the water or after they hear you call them by banging your hand or knife against a rock. Rawls, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries, hereby announces that effective 12:01 A. Five marine pots or dillies per person. Regional size limits apply. 0. It can be up to a metre long and weigh between 2 and 15kg, though some specimens may reach 40kg or more. Required length - 65cm. Share More sharing options. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. Season: Open all year---No minimum size requirement. There is a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish can be taken over 60cm. Anemone - Waratah. NSW – Spearfishing prohibited but angling permitted with a bag limit of 2 fish over 30cms with only 1 fish allowed over 60cm Western Blue Groper: Vulnerable (IUCN – global rating) WA – Daily bag limit of 1 fish over 50cms permitted Groper, western blue. Groper cannot be taken and/or sold by any method of commercial fishing. 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. 60 and 28. Females are greenish yellow in colour, and juveniles are greyish brown. In Australia, increased recognition of the importance of fisheries to Indigenous culture and livelihoods over recent years has created a need for information on the species targeted to support policy and. 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 >. Size Range The species grows to at least 2. Possession of six Blue Groper if the limit is two; and two blue grocers over 60 centimeters, while a single blue grocer can exceed that size,” Tritton said. Sunday, October 15, 2023;Size and age – As the biggest grouper, the goliath can grow 8 feet long and can weigh as much as 790 pounds. Even so, the average catch is in the same 5–20 lb bracket as Black Grouper. Fish include tuna, shark, trevallay, snapper, marlin, mackerel and flathead etc. Measures and rulers; Permitted fishing equipment. A minimum legal length of 30cm will be introduced for blue groper. View larger map. 2m in length, the eastern blue groper is a formidable fish whether encountered as by-catch while general bait fishing or indeed targeted by anglers. 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). NSW DPI Fisheries have reminded anglers and skindivers that groper – red or blue, are fully protected from. 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. Giant Queensland gropers are one of the largest of all bony fishes, reaching lengths of up to 3 m and weighing about 600 kg. FINES and penalties issued by an Esperance Court last week serve to remind spear fishers to adhere to size and bag limits. "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. to those inhabited by adults. Minimum size limit 13cm for males and 14cm for females. Colour. Blue groper price. Groper have a legal length of 30cm, only 1 over 60cm with a bag limit of 2 and Groper can be taken by line only. 0 app via the App Store or Google Play. Location: Central Coast NSW; Share; Posted May 26, 2011. Blue groper fish are large and powerful so you need a rod and reel that can handle the weight and strength of the fish. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The Blue Groper or Achoerodus Virdis is a species of wrasse that’s found along the east coast of Australia. • Remove the WA dhufish boat limit. Maximum Size: 120cm NSW Record: 19. Cod and groper 5 Susceptible to barotrauma. Anglerfish - Tasselled. Fish sizes and bag limits for salt water fishing in New South Wales. The blue groper has been the official fish of NSW since 1996. Western Blue Groper also grow to a larger size and live longer than their eastern relatives. A bag limit of one will also apply to each species of marlin. gov. Let them grow and grow. Recreational anglers are encouraged to use electronic charting equipment to plot the 20-fathom break by entering the established coordinates listed on the map below into a route. Minimum Size Limits: • Sailfish 63"; • Blue. Size and bag limits. 6 out of 5, with 41 ratings and reviews on Untappd. At the sites where A. It can live close to 40 years of age. due to bag and size limits. Maximum legal length: 100 cm measured from tip of snout to tip of tail. Western blue groper publIsHeD JAnuArY 2011With regard to size classes, the most. Types of fishing allowed are:. In 1980, the commercial sale of Eastern Blue Groper in New South Wales was prohibited, with a fine of $11,000 imposed on anyone caught spearing them. 36 metres and 210kg in weight, however it is rare for these tuna to exceed 1. Size Maximum of close to 50 kg and a length of over 1 m. Related. In NSW spearfishers must pay a NSW recreational fishing fee. The possession limit also applies to the. NSW Recreative Fisheries Monitoring Program (RFMP) Charter how in NSW;The final rule removes the 12-inch total length minimum size limit for queen snapper, silk snapper, and blackfin snapper. Blue spotted coral trout (Chinese footballer) 50cm min 80cm max. The 50 per cent catch reduction levels (stock recovery benchmarks) equate to 22 tonnes (t) and 33 t for the commercial and recreational sectors in the WCB, respectively. 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. 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. Blue groper can be only caught 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 60cm. The magistrate ordered Levi Rosolin of Herne Hill (aged 22) to pay a total of $2,670. Posted Wed 22 Feb 2023 at 9:39pm, updated Thu 23. • Remove size limits for WA dhufish, baldchin groper and breaksea cod. Fish – Bag and size limits. Although the blue groper is NSW's marine emblem, it is only protected. They are also within a mixed species daily bag limit. Common Name: Blue Groper Scientific Name: Achoerodus viridis Maximum Size: 120cm NSW Record: 19. 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. But this only happens to the dominant female in any group, so most remain brown all their lives. See NSW Fisheries website for legal lengths and bag limits The Blue Groper is a commonly seen species on NSW reefs and is easily distinguished by its size and swimming technique. Size - Maximum of close to 50kg and a length of over 1m. New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia. The western blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii) is the largest permanent-resident reef teleost in southern Australian. However, as oyster reefs are critically endangered around NSW, this home of the blue groper is under threat prompting fears for the fish’s long-term survival. SPEARING NSW’s official state fish has resulted in fines and professional costs of $3,660 plus additional court costs after a man was convicted for killing six blue groper on the NSW north coast. 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. 0. The posterior section of the body has six vertical bands of white. Recreational Fishing in NSW Rules and Regulations Summary AUGUST 2018. "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. The final rule reduces the minimum size limit in federal waters off the east coast of Florida from 14 inches to 12 inches fork length; andThere is no minimum size limits on mullet, although there is a 50-fish-per-person-per-day daily limit, 100-fish daily bag limit per boat from Feb. Size limits: minimum: 25 cm; maximum. Prone to barotrauma. For any enquirers relating to spearfishing safety and education in public areas please visit the spearfishing safety education action plan. The eastern blue groper (Achoerodus viridis) is a species of wrasse native to southeastern Australia from Hervey Bay in southern Queensland to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. Pelagics. COMMON NAME: Eastern Blue Groper Western Blue Groper SCIENTIFIC NAME: Achoerodus viridis Achoerodus gouldii FAMILY: Labridae. 054kg (before it became a protected species) Range: QLD, NSW, VIC Note: Linefishers may take still take this species. Measure all your fish and return undersize or excess fish alive to the water. The groper’s distribution is widespread, touching South Australia, east and north coasts of Tasmania, and the entire eastern seaboard of Victoria and NSW. The new size limitInformation on bag and size limits and legal fishing gear. All other fish within the mixed species bag limit. Fishers lose access to resource. For each species of fish not listed a bag limit of 5 applies. Instead he attacks the current New South Wales spear fishing. Threatened Species Section: Port Stephens Fisheries Institute. It forages on organisms like urchins using its very powerful jaws. Groper have a bag limit of 2 fish per person. Incidental capture of excess fish will still occur and this adds to total fishing mortality. eastern blue wrasse, blue groper, brown groper, giant pigfish. More precise data on movement will limit biases associated with the use of over-simplified movement patterns in the evaluation of MPA. 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. This page provides information on the size, distribution and characteristics of many common recreational species found in NSW waters . What size fish is legal? The minimum size limit is 24 inches fork length. Remove upper size limit One size limit of 60cm in open area. Image: NSW DPI. For corporations these penalties can. 2-9. Can you shoot groper in NSW? Spearing Groper is illegal! Can you Spearfish blue groper? Blue groper are protected from spearfishing and anyone who spears one can face a maximum penalty of $22,000 and six months in prison. Attaining a maximum size of around 25kg and 1. 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. It can reach up to 120 cm in length and it’s a very charismatic species that’s sought out by divers because of its inquisitive nature and its beautiful colouring. Bag Limit. 31; from Sept. 1 - Apr. Gag makes up a large part of the recreational harvest in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. No-take marine protected areas (MPAs) represent an effective biodiversity conservation tool for a range of species including resident reef fishes that are intrinsically vulnerable to overfishing and other localised impacts. Reducing the bag limit still allows for a trophy fish to be taken. If you want a feed, catch a few drummer or bream and let the groper go! The Fisho team. Gag Grouper. [29] Shenzhen News in China reported that a 1. 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. there can only be a maximum of 20 blue swimmer crabs on board. NSW Dpi Fisheries ask that any illegal fishing is reported to the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536. Identifying features. The colour for Bass Groper varies from dark grey to steely blue, with or without silvery blotches. Female Blue Gropers are brown and they have to change sex to change colour. Can you eat blue groper. Bag and size limits. There is a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish can be taken over 60cm. The locals a. There is a bag limit of 2 Groper per day. NC, SC, GA, FL. Blue groper should be completely protected - from line fishing as well as spearing. Bag limit (1), boat limit (2) in open area. 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. Diet consists of crabs, prawns, shellfish and sea urchins. 80 for having speared five western blue groper (three of which were found to be undersize) when the offender’s catch was. An experienced spear fisherman and former spear fishing record-holder has been convicted of killing six Blue Groper at Evans Head . "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. The groper’s distribution is widespread, touching South Australia, the east and north coasts of Tasmania, and the entire eastern seaboard of Victoria. Line fishing is the only legal method for taking Eastern (Blue Red or Brown) Groper in NSW. In the South Atlantic: Annual catch limits and accountability measures. 23 January 2014. Blue groper (Female) Distribution - Blue groper are found in rocky reef areas along the east coast, between Hervey Bay and Wilson's Promontory. Gunnamatta Bay (Port Hacking) This epic jetty in The Shire easily ranks among the best fishing spots in Sydney. It can be found in the deep water (100 m +) off the NSW coast. The NSW Government has previously declared the Eastern blue groper the state emblem fish of NSW. The fins are dark, and light blue dots cover the entire body. Reduces total take. Insert instead: (2) For the purposes of section 18 (1 ) of the Act, the possession limit • Demersal scalefish boat limit of four (excludes charter boats). (H) For seasons, bag limits and size limits on snapper, grouper, and mackerels contact the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 843-571-4366 or and see the most recent Snapper GrouperHome-range size in western blue groper Marine and Freshwater Research 553 and, in total, 15 individually coded VEMCO transmitters ( n ¼ 13, V13-1H, n ¼ 2, V13P-1H, nominal delay 180 s for bothBlue Groper Legal Size Nsw. Size Range This species grows to 1. They are found in the coastal waters of southern Australia and distinguished by the bright blue colouring of the adult males. Blue swimmer crabs. The approvals include: Setting a 24-inch total length minimum size limit for recreational harvest of gag and black grouper in Gulf state waters. The blue can range from deep navy to cobalt blue, and there may also be darker or yellow-orange spots or lines around. gov.