(1) Striped mullet –
    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (1)(b) and rule 68B-39.0045, 68B-39.0046, or 68B-39.008, F.A.C., a commercial harvester is not subject to a daily bag limit for striped mullet.
    (b) During the period beginning November 1 each year and continuing through January 31 of the following year, a commercial harvester may not harvest striped mullet in excess of the recreational bag and vessel limits established by Fl. Admin. Code R. 68B-39.004, from the following waters:
    1. In Manatee County, all waters of the Manatee River upstream of a line extending from a point at the eastern side of the mouth of Warner East Bayou (27°30.588’N, 82°37.098’W) in a northeasterly direction to a point at the eastern side of the mouth of Snead Island Cut (27°31.424’N, 82°36.637’W).
    2. In Charlotte County, on the Peace River, upstream of a line extending from Mangrove Point (26°53.590’N, 82°05.510’W) in a northwesterly direction to a point on the shoreline at the northern bank of the eastern mouth of Myakka Cutoff (26°56.018’N, 82°08.018’W).
    3. In Charlotte County, all of Coral Creek upstream of its mouth on Gasparilla Sound, defined as a straight line between a point at 26°49.797’N, 82°15.742’W and a point at 26°49.797’N, 82°15.661’W.
    (2) Silver mullet –
    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (2)(b) and in Fl. Admin. Code R. 68B-39.008, a commercial harvester is not subject to a daily bag limit for silver mullet.
    (b)1. On any weekend during the period beginning July 1 each year and continuing through January 31 of the following year, the harvest for commercial purposes of silver mullet is prohibited. On any such weekend all harvesters are subject to the recreational bag, possession, and landing limits specified in Fl. Admin. Code R. 68B-39.004
    2. A commercial harvester who has lawfully harvested silver mullet prior to the beginning of any such weekend may possess, aboard a vessel, silver mullet in quantities greater than the recreational bag limit after the weekend begins, if the vessel is tied up to the docking facilities of a licensed wholesale saltwater products dealer, the vessel was docked at the facility prior to the beginning of the weekend, and the person is in the process of landing the silver mullet at the dealer’s facility.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 5-16-19.