Scientific Name
Pristipomoides aquilonaris
Stock Status
Overfishing – No
Overfished – Unknown
Stock Assessment
Regulations
| Recreational | Commercial | ||
| Season | Open year-round. If landings reach the stock complex ACL, harvest will be prohibited for the remainder of the fishing year. | Season | Open year-round. If landings reach the stock complex ACL, harvest will be prohibited for the remainder of the fishing year. |
| Minimum Size Limit | none | Minimum Size Limit | none |
| Bag Limit | Within the 10-snapper aggregate bag limit which includes gray, mutton, yellowtail, cubera, queen, blackfin, wenchman, and silk snappers. | Trip Limit | none |
| Permit | State issued recreational license/angler registry, federal angler registry or Federal charter/headboat permit for reef fish | Permit | Commercial vessel permit for reef fish is required. |
| Gear | Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one dehooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. | Gear | Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one dehooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. |
Harvest Limits
| Sector | Annual Catch Limit |
| Stock | Complex ACL for silk, queen, blackfin, and wenchman snapper – 166,000 pounds |
Description
Wenchman is a snapper found from North Carolina to Florida, including the Gulf of Mexico, extending down to the Caribbean Sea and Brazil. This fish is a reddish to pinkish color on the top and sides and a pinkish to silvery color below. The fins are mostly semi-transparent with a light pink color, except for the yellow outer edges of the dorsal and tail fin. Wenchman has large eyes compared to its body size.
Maximum observed age: 14 years1
Age at maturity: ~ 2 years2
Maximum weight: 4.38 pounds (1.99 kilograms)3
Maximum length: 22.05 inches (56 centimeters)4
Life History and Distribution
Within its range, wenchman prefers to reside in deeper water over hard bottom habitats, including reefs. Little is known about the life history characteristics of this species. Thus, more research is needed on all life history aspects of this fish.5
References
- Anderson, Brenda & Lombardi-Carlson, Linda & Hamilton, Alonzo. (2009). Age and Growth of Wenchman (Pristipomoides aquilonaris) from the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute. 61. 210-217.
- Farmer, N.A., Malinowski, R.P., McGovern, M.F. and Rubec, P.J. (2016), Stock Complexes for Fisheries Management in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 8: 177-201. doi:10.1080/19425120.2015.1024359
- IGFA All Tackle Record, Bahamas
- SEDAR 49 Final Stock Assessment Report: Gulf of Mexico Data-limited Species, 2016