CFMC
UPDATES
JULY
2025
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) newsletter contains activity announcements, facts on various marine species, and valuable information on fishing and the regulations that govern this activity in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NEW LIMITS FOR FISHING FOR NEW LIMITS FOR FISHING FOR DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO
NOAA Fisheries announced the rule establishing new management measures for dolphinfish and wahoo in federal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including minimum size limits for all dolphinfish and wahoo fishing (commercial and recreational) and bag limits for recreational fishing of these species.
Here below, we include these measures.
LIMITS FOR DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO FISHING LIMITS FOR DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO FISHING IN FEDERAL WATERS OF THE U.S. CARIBBEAN IN FEDERAL WATERS OF THE U.S. CARIBBEAN
Minimum size limits for ALL Minimum size limits for ALL dorado and wahoo fishing dorado and wahoo fishing (commercial and recreational) (commercial and recreational)
DOLPHINFISH - 24 inches fork length
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Minimum size limits for ALL Minimum size limits for ALL dorado and wahoo fishing dorado and wahoo fishing (commercial and recreational) (commercial and recreational)
WAHOO - 32 inches fork length
BAG LIMITS FOR RECREATIONAL FISHING OF DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO FISHING IN FEDERAL WATERS AROUND
PUERTO RICO
DOLPHINFISH - 5 dolphinfish per person d t t d 15 dolphinfish per ever is less
WAHOO - 5 dolphinfish per person per day, not to exceed 10 wahoo per vessel per day, whichever is less
Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
BAG LIMITS FOR DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO
BAG LIMITS FOR DOLPHINFISH AND WAHOO
RECREATIONAL FISHING IN FEDERAL WATERS
RECREATIONAL FISHING IN FEDERAL WATERS
AROUND AROUND
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
DOLPHINFISH - 10 dolphinfish per person per day, not to exceed 32 dolphinfish per vessel per day, whichever is less
WAHOO - 2 wahoo per person per day, not to exceed 10 wahoo per vessel per day, whichever is less NOAA Fisheries is implementing this action to ensure that dolphin and wahoo have the adequate time to mature and reproduce, and to protect species with limited management structure, from overfishing.
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RITMICANO RITMICANO SHARES HIS THOUG SHARES HIS THOUG
As the new fishing limits for wahoo and dolphinfish fishing become official, we wanted to talk to a commercial fisherman who catches these species. We spoke to Anthony Elizo Vargas, known as “Ritmicano,” who shared the following:
“I’ve been fishing since 2016. I fish for dolphinfish (mahi) and wahoo because they are migratory pelagic species that are abundant in our waters during their seasons, and as a small-scale artisanal fisherman, I consider it a sustainable practice since I use a small boat and fish with lines and hooks. I also catch these species for economic benefit, and I practice responsible management, which adds value to my catches.
My favorite fishing techniques are jigging and casting, but for commercial fishing I use steel line and live bait. As for preparing these fish, I like them raw, in ceviche, marinated, and breaded.
I think that the established catch limits and size restrictions are important for conserving and ensuring the survival of the species. However, they must go hand in hand with educational campaigns on the subject for the general public to learn more about the life and habitat of the species. We need people to understand how the size and limit decisions are made.”
