Is there a change to sheepshead measurement?
Sheepshead and flounder are included in the same rule (68B-48, Florida Administrative Code). This rule lists a size limit of 12 inches total length for sheepshead and flounder. However, “length” was previously defined as “from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail”. This was a total length measure for flounder since they have a convex tail, but this was a fork length measurement for sheepshead since they have a slightly forked tail. However, the rule stated that sheepshead should be measured as total length. This inconsistency was part of the reason we needed to modify our rules. Thus, under the new definition sheepshead should be measured as total length with a squeezed tail.
