Section 622.182 - Gear-restricted areas(a)Special management zones (SMZs).(1) The SMZs consist of artificial reefs and surrounding areas as follows: (i)Paradise Reef is bounded on the north by 33°31.59' N. lat.; on the south by 33°30.51' N. lat.; on the east by 78°57.55' W. long.; and on the west by 78°58.85' W. long.(ii)Ten Mile Reef is bounded on the north by 33°26.65' N. lat.; on the south by 33°24.80' N. lat.; on the east by 78°51.08' W. long.; and on the west by 78°52.97' W. long.(iii)Pawleys Island Reef is bounded on the north by 33°26.58' N. lat.; on the south by 33°25.76' N. lat.; on the east by 79°00.29' W. long.; and on the west by 79°01.24' W. long.(iv)Georgetown Reef is bounded on the north by 33°14.90' N. lat.; on the south by 33°13.85' N. lat.; on the east by 78°59.45' W. long.; and on the west by 79°00.65' W. long.(v)Capers Reef is bounded on the north by 32°45.45' N. lat.; on the south by 32°43.91' N. lat.; on the east by 79°33.81' W. long.; and on the west by 79°35.10' W. long.(vi)Kiawah Reef is bounded on the north by 32°29.78' N. lat.; on the south by 32°28.25' N. lat.; on the east by 79°59.00' W. long.; and on the west by 80°00.95' W. long.(vii)Edisto Offshore Reef is bounded on the north by 32°15.30' N. lat.; on the south by 32°13.90' N. lat.; on the east by 79°50.25' W. long.; and on the west by 79°51.45' W. long.(viii)Hunting Island Reef is bounded on the north by 32°13.72' N. lat.; on the south by 32°12.30' N. lat.; on the east by 80°19.23' W. long.; and on the west by 80°21.00' W. long.(ix)Fripp Island Reef is bounded on the north by 32°15.92' N. lat.; on the south by 32°14.75' N. lat.; on the east by 80°21.62' W. long.; and on the west by 80°22.90' W. long.(x)Betsy Ross Reef is bounded on the north by 32°03.60' N. lat.; on the south by 32°02.88' N. lat.; on the east by 80°24.57' W. long.; and on the west by 80°25.50' W. long.(xi)Hilton Head Reef/Artificial Reef-T is bounded on the north by 32°00.71' N. lat.; on the south by 31°59.42' N. lat.; on the east by 80°35.23' W. long.; and on the west by 80°36.37' W. long.(xii)Artificial Reef-A is bounded on the north by 30°57.4' N. lat.; on the south by 30°55.4' N. lat.; on the east by 81°13.9' W. long.; and on the west by 81°16.3' W. long.(xiii)Artificial Reef-C is bounded on the north by 30°52.0' N. lat.; on the south by 30°50.0' N. lat.; on the east by 81°08.5' W. long.; and on the west by 81°10.9' W. long.(xiv)Artificial Reef-G is bounded on the north by 31°00.0' N. lat.; on the south by 30°58.0' N. lat.; on the east by 80°56.8' W. long.; and on the west by 80°59.2' W. long.(xv)Artificial Reef-F is bounded on the north by 31°06.8' N. lat.; on the south by 31°04.8' N. lat.; on the east by 81°10.5' W. long.; and on the west by 81°13.4' W. long.(xvi)Artificial Reef-J is bounded on the north by 31°36.7' N. lat.; on the south by 31°34.7' N. lat.; on the east by 80°47.3' W. long.; and on the west by 80°50.1' W. long.(xvii)Artificial Reef-L is bounded on the north by 31°46.0' N. lat.; on the south by 31°44.0' N. lat.; on the east by 80°34.7' W. long.; and on the west by 80°37.1' W. long.(xviii)Artificial Reef-KC is bounded on the north by 31°51.2' N. lat.; on the south by 31°49.2' N. lat.; on the east by 80°45.3' W. long.; and on the west by 80°47.7' W. long.(xix)Ft. Pierce Inshore Reef is bounded on the north by 27°26.8' N. lat.; on the south by 27°25.8' N. lat.; on the east by 80°09.24' W. long.; and on the west by 80°10.36' W. long.(xx)Ft. Pierce Offshore Reef is bounded by rhumb lines connecting, in order, the following points: | Point | North lat. | West long. |
| A | 27°23.68' | 80°03.95' |
| B | 27°22.80' | 80°03.60' |
| C | 27°23.94' | 80°00.02' |
| D | 27°24.85' | 80°00.33' |
| A | 27°23.68' | 80°03.95' |
(xxi)Key Biscayne/Artificial Reef-H is bounded on the north by 25°42.82' N. lat.; on the south by 25°41.32' N. lat.; on the east by 80°04.22' W. long.; and on the west by 80°05.53' W. long.(xxii)Little River Offshore Reef is bounded on the north by 33°42.10' N. lat.; on the south by 33°41.10' N. lat.; on the east by 78°26.40' W. long.; and on the west by 78°27.10' W. long.(xxiii)BP-25 Reef is bounded on the north by 33°21.70' N. lat.; on the south by 33°20.70' N. lat.; on the east by 78°24.80' W. long.; and on the west by 78°25.60' W. long.(xxiv)Vermilion Reef is bounded on the north by 32°57.80' N. lat.; on the south by 32°57.30' N. lat.; on the east by 78°39.30' W. long.; and on the west by 78°40.10' W. long.(xxv)Cape Romaine Reef is bounded on the north by 33°00.00' N. lat.; on the south by 32°59.50' N. lat.; on the east by 79°02.01' W. long.; and on the west by 79°02.62' W. long.(xxvi)Y-73 Reef is bounded on the north by 32°33.20' N. lat.; on the south by 32°32.70' N. lat.; on the east by 79°19.10' W. long.; and on the west by 79°19.70' W. long.(xxvii)Eagles Nest Reef is bounded on the north by 32°01.48' N. lat.; on the south by 32°00.98' N. lat.; on the east by 80°30.00' W. long.; and on the west by 80°30.65' W. long.(xxviii)Bill Perry Jr. Reef is bounded on the north by 33°26.20' N. lat.; on the south by 33°25.20' N. lat.; on the east by 78°32.70' W. long.; and on the west by 78°33.80' W. long.(xxix)Comanche Reef is bounded on the north by 32°27.40' N. lat.; on the south by 32°26.90' N. lat.; on the east by 79°18.80' W. long.; and on the west by 79°19.60' W. long.(xxx)Murrel's Inlet 60 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 33°17.50' N. lat.; on the south by 33°16.50' N. lat.; on the east by 78°44.67' W. long.; and on the west by 78°45.98' W. long.(xxxi)Georgetown 95 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 33°11.75' N. lat.; on the south by 33°10.75' N. lat.; on the east by 78°24.10' W. long.; and on the west by 78°25.63' W. long.(xxxii)New Georgetown 60 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 33°09.25' N. lat.; on the south by 33°07.75' N. lat.; on the east by 78°49.95' W. long.; and on the west by 78°51.45' W. long.(xxxiii)North Inlet 45 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 33°21.03' N. lat.; on the south by 33°20.03' N. lat.; on the east by 79°00.31' W. long.; and on the west by 79°01.51' W. long.(xxxiv)CJ Davidson Reef is bounded on the north by 33°06.48' N. lat.; on the south by 33°05.48' N. lat.; on the east by 79°00.27' W. long.; and on the west by 79°01.39' W. long.(xxxv)Greenville Reef is bounded on the north by 32°57.25' N. lat.; on the south by 32°56.25' N. lat.; on the east by 78°54.25' W. long.; and on the west by 78°55.25' W. long.(xxxvi)Charleston 60 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 32°33.60' N. lat.; on the south by 32°32.60' N. lat.; on the east by 79°39.70' W. long.; and on the west by 79°40.90' W. long.(xxxvii)Edisto 60 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 32°21.75' N. lat.; on the south by 32°20.75' N. lat.; on the east by 80°04.10' W. longitude; and on the west by 80°05.70' W. long.(xxxviii)Edisto 40 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 32°25.78' N. lat.; on the south by 32°24.78' N. lat.; on the east by 80°11.24' W. long.; and on the west by 80°12.32' W. long.(xxxix)Beaufort 45 Foot Reef is bounded on the north by 32°07.65' N. lat.; on the south by 32°06.65' N. lat.; on the east by 80°28.80' W. long.; and on the west by 80°29.80' W. long.(xl)Artificial Reef-ALT is bounded on the north by 31°18.6' N. lat.; on the south by 31°16.6' N. lat.; on the east by 81°07.0' W. long.; and on the west by 81°09.4' W. long.(xli)Artificial Reef-CAT is bounded on the north by 31°40.2' N. lat.; on the south by 31°38.2' N. lat.; on the east by 80°56.2' W. long.; and on the west by 80°58.6' W. long.(xlii)Artificial Reef-CCA is bounded on the north by 31°43.7' N. lat.; on the south by 31°41.7' N. lat.; on the east by 80°40.0' W. long.; and on the west by 80°42.3' W. long.(xliii)Artificial Reef-DRH is bounded on the north by 31°18.0' N. lat.; on the south by 31°16.0' N. lat.; on the east by 80°56.6' W. long.; and on the west by 80°59.0' W. long.(xliv)Artificial Reef-DUA is bounded on the north by 31°47.8' N. lat.; on the south by 31°45.8' N. lat.; on the east by 80°52.1' W. long.; and on the west by 80°54.5' W. long.(xlv)Artificial Reef-DW is bounded on the north by 31°22.8' N. lat.; on the south by 31°20.3' N. lat.; on the east by 79°49.8' W. long.; and on the west by 79°51.1' W. long.(xlvi)Artificial Reef-KBY is bounded on the north by 30°48.6' N. lat.; on the south by 30°46.6' N. lat.; on the east by 81°15.0' W. long.; and on the west by 81°17.4' W. long.(xlvii)Artificial Reef-KTK is bounded on the north by 31°31.3' N. lat.; on the south by 31°29.3' N. lat.; on the east by 80°59.1' W. long.; and on the west by 81°01.5' W. long.(xlviii)Artificial Reef-MRY is bounded on the north by 30°47.5' N. lat.; on the south by 30°45.5' N. lat.; on the east by 81°05.5' W. long.; and on the west by 81°07.8' W. long.(xlix)Artificial Reef-SAV is bounded on the north by 31°55.4' N. lat.; on the south by 31°53.4' N. lat.; on the east by 80°45.2' W. long.; and on the west by 80°47.6' W. long.(l)Artificial Reef-SFC is bounded on the north by 31°00.8' N. lat.; on the south by 30°59.8' N. lat.; on the east by 81°02.2' W. long.; and on the west by 81°03.4' W. long.(li)Artificial Reef-WW is bounded on the north by 31°43.5' N. lat.; on the south by 31°42.2' N. lat.; on the east by 79°57.7' W. long.; and on the west by 79°59.3' W. long.(2) To determine what restrictions apply in the SMZs listed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, follow this table: Table 2 to Paragraph (a)(2)
| In SMZs specified in the following paragraphs of this section | These restrictions apply |
| (a)(1)(i) through (x) and (a)(1)(xxii) through (xxxix) | Use of a powerhead to take South Atlantic snapper-grouper is prohibited. |
| (a)(1)(i) through (x) and (a)(1)(xxii) through (xxxix) | Possession of a powerhead and a mutilated South Atlantic snapper-grouper in, or after having fished in, one of these SMZs constitutes prima facie evidence that such fish was taken with a powerhead in the SMZ. Harvest and possession of a South Atlantic snapper-grouper is limited to the bag limits specified in § 622.187(b) . |
| (a)(1)(i) through (xviii) and (a)(1)(xxii) through (li) | Fishing may only be conducted with handline, rod and reel, and spearfishing gear. |
| (a)(1)(i) through (li) | Use of a sea bass pot or bottom longline is prohibited. |
| (a)(1)(xii) through (xviii) and (a)(1)(xl) through (li) | Possession of South Atlantic snapper-grouper taken with a powerhead is limited to the bag limits specified in § 622.187(b) . |
| (a)(1)(xix) and (a)(1)(xx) | A hydraulic or electric reel that is permanently affixed to the vessel is prohibited when fishing for South Atlantic snapper-grouper. |
| (a)(1)(xix) and (a)(1)(xxi) | Use of spearfishing gear is prohibited. |
(b)Longline prohibited areas. A longline may not be used to fish in the EEZ for South Atlantic snapper-grouper south of 27°10' N. lat. (due east of the entrance to St. Lucie Inlet, FL); or north of 27°10' N. lat. where the charted depth is less than 50 fathoms (91.4 m), as shown on the latest edition of the largest scale NOAA chart of the location. A person aboard a vessel with a longline on board that fishes on a trip in the South Atlantic EEZ south of 27°10' N. lat., or north of 27°10' N. lat. where the charted depth is less than 50 fathoms (91.4 m), is limited on that trip to the bag limit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper for which a bag limit is specified in § 622.187(b) , and to zero for all other South Atlantic snapper-grouper. For the purpose of this paragraph, a vessel is considered to have a longline on board when a power-operated longline hauler, a cable or monofilament of diameter and length suitable for use in the longline fishery, and gangions are on board. Removal of any one of these three elements constitutes removal of a longline.(d)Sea bass pot prohibited area. A sea bass pot may not be used in the South Atlantic EEZ south of 28°35.1' N. lat. (due east of the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building, Cape Canaveral, FL). A sea bass pot deployed in the EEZ south of 28°35.1' N. lat. may be disposed of in any appropriate manner by the Assistant Administrator or an authorized officer.(e)SMZs off North Carolina.(1) The center of each SMZ in Table 3 to this paragraph (e) is located at the given point with a radius extending the applicable distance in every direction laterally from that point to form a circle around the center point.(2) Harvest of South Atlantic snapper-grouper while in the SMZs in this paragraph (e) is permitted only by handline, rod and reel, and spearfishing gear. All harvest of South Atlantic snapper-grouper by spearfishing gear in the SMZs in this paragraph (e) is limited to the applicable recreational bag and possession limits in § 622.187 . Table 3 to Paragraph (e)
| Reef name | North lat. | West long. | Radius in ft
(m) |
| AR-130 | 36°00.296' | 75°31.957' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-140 | 35°56.718' | 75°31.965' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-145 | 35°54.017' | 75°23.883' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-220 | 35°08.117' | 75°40.633' | 3,000 (914) |
| AR-225 | 35°06.768' | 75°39.322' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-230 | 35°06.133' | 75°42.933' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-250 | 34°56.900' | 75°54.860' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-255 | 34°55.483' | 75°57.910' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-285 | 34°33.383' | 76°26.350' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-300 | 34°18.517' | 76°24.133' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-302 | 34°10.265' | 76°13.703' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-305 | 34°16.683' | 76°38.650' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-330 | 34°33.634' | 76°51.267' | 3,000 (914) |
| AR-340 | 34°34.319' | 76°58.345' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-345 | 34°32.266' | 76°58.508' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-355 | 34°21.318' | 77°19.877' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-362 | 34°15.657' | 77°30.392' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-366 | 34°12.950' | 77°25.250' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-368 | 34°09.514' | 77°25.782' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-372 | 34°06.295' | 77°44.917' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-376 | 34°03.283' | 77°39.633' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-382 | 33°58.581' | 77°41.172' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-386 | 33°57.517' | 77°33.400' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-400 | 33°29.267' | 77°35.227' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-420 | 33°51.050' | 78°06.710' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-440 | 33°49.800' | 78°13.083' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-445 | 33°44.783' | 78°14.100' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-455 | 33°47.033' | 78°17.883' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-460 | 33°50.089' | 78°22.022' | 1,500 (457) |
| AR-465 | 33°23.423' | 78°11.052' | 1,500 (457) |
(f)Additional SMZs off South Carolina.(1) The center of each SMZ in Table 4 to this paragraph (f) is located at the given point with a radius extending the applicable distance in every direction laterally from that point to form a circle around the center point.(2) Harvest of South Atlantic snapper-grouper while in the SMZs in this paragraph (f) is permitted only by handline, rod and reel, and spearfishing gear (excludes a powerhead). All harvest of South Atlantic snapper-grouper by the allowable gear in the SMZs in this paragraph (f) is limited to the applicable recreational bag and possession limits in § 622.187 .(3)PA-04-Ron McManus Memorial Reef. This SMZ is bounded by lines connecting the following corner points: northwest corner point at 33°46.400' N, 78°36.200' W; northeast corner point at 33°46.400' N, 78°35.600' W; southeast corner point at 33°45.900' N, 78°35.600' W; and southwest corner point at 33°45.900' N, 78°36.200' W. Table 4 to Paragraph (f)
| Reef name | North lat. | West long. | Radius in ft
(m) |
| PA-07 Pop Nash | 33°34.510' | 78°51.000' | 600 (183) |
| PA-28 Lowcountry Anglers | 32°34.300' | 79°55.100' | 600 (183) |
| PA-34 CCA-McClellanville | 32°51.800' | 79°22.500' | 600 (183) |
78 FR 22952 , Apr. 17, 2013, as amended at 85 FR 36171 , June 15, 2020; 87 FR 23149 , Apr. 19, 2022 85 FR 36171 , 7/15/2020; 86 FR 17319 , 5/3/2021; 87 FR 23149 , 4/19/2022