Physical description:

Related to the gag and other slender-bodied groupers, the scamp are identified by their pronounced anal and soft dorsal ray extensions, a more concave profile of the head, and by color. Scamp have a tan to grayish-brown body covered with sharply defined, well-separated dark spots, which are approximately an eighth of an inch in diameter.

Biological description:

The Scamp inhabits continental shelf waters from the Campeche Banks , in the Gulf of Mexico, to Florida and northward along the East Coast to North Carolina. Although the species occationally congregates over high-profile bottom, such as wrecks and rock outcroppings, the preferred habitat is low-profile, live bottom areas in waters 75-300 feet deep. These areas are characterized by profuse growths of soft corals and sponges populated by red grouper, white grunt, red porgy and numerous species of small, tropical reef fish. Scamp are sexually mature at the age of 3 years, or those larger than 16 inches. In offshore waters from April to May, scamp spawn thousands of pelagic eggs. They have been recorded at age up tp 21 years, but may live up to 30 years. They may reach a length of up to 43 inches and weight of up to 36 pounds. Scamp can be aggressive predators, capturing crabs, shrimp, and fishes and swallowing them whole.

South Atlantic Federal Regulations

(For areas three-200 miles off the coasts of NC, SC, GA, and East Florida)

Commercial:

Limited access permit required.

• 20" TL size limit.
• Gear restrictions apply.

Recreational:

• Included in 10 snapper per person limit. See recreational retention limits.
• 20" TL size limit.
• Gear restrictions apply.