**NEW** Gag Grouper Commission Update:
Gulf: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission adopted new management measures for Gulf of Mexico
gag grouper at the
February 2012 Commission meeting.
The following changes have been adopted:
-
setting the recreational open season from July 1 through
Oct. 31 (except for state waters off of Franklin, Wakulla,
Jefferson and Taylor counties including all waters of
Apalachiocola Bay and Indian Pass, including those in Gulf
County, and all waters of the Steinhatchee River, including
those in Dixie County.
-
lowering the minimum commercial size limit from 24 inches to
22 inches total length
The Commission also determined that an April
1, 2012, through June 30, 2012, gag grouper harvest season
was warranted in the state waters off Taylor, Jefferson,
Wakulla and Franklin counties, including all waters of
Apalachicola Bay, Indian Pass and the Steinhatchee River. This area
of state waters will be closed to recreational gag grouper harvest
for the remainder of the year.
The smaller size limit will not allow commercial
fishermen to harvest more fish because gag grouper is on a quota
system, meaning only a certain number of fish can be harvested. The
smaller size limit will decrease the amount of fish deaths.
For more information, visit the
gag grouper question and answer page.
Current Recreational Regulations
- Gag, Black, Red Grouper -
(State and Federal Waters)
State and Federal
Waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Except All
State Waters of Monroe County) *
|
Gag |
Black |
Red |
Minimum Size Limit |
22" TL |
22" TL |
20" TL |
Bag Limit |
Up to 2 Gag within the 4 grouper
aggregate during open season |
Up to 4 Black within the 4 grouper
aggregate |
Up to 4 Red per person within the 4
grouper aggregate |
Closed Season** |
*NEW*
Nov. 1-June 30 Gulf (exluding
Franklin, Wakulla,
Jefferson & Taylor counties)
Through March 31, 2012, and July 1-Dec. 31,
2012, Franklin,
Wakulla, Jefferson & Taylor
including all waters of
Steinhatchee River, Indian
Pass & Apalachicola Bay (see maps below)
|
Feb. 1 -
March 31 closure in state and federal waters** |
Feb. 1 - March 31 closure in state and
federal waters** |
Capt/Crew |
charter captain/crew - zero bag limit |
*Note:
Gear rules require circle hooks, dehooking and venting tools to
be used in the Gulf reef fish fishery
**Feb. 1 - March 31 closed season in Gulf waters
applies to the following grouper species: Red, Black,
Yellowfin, Yellowmouth, Rock Hind, Red Hind and Scamp.
Anglers targeting gag grouper in state waters in Franklin,
Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties can keep their bag limit from
April 1 through June 30. This opening also includes all waters of
the Steinhatchee River, including those in Dixie County, and all
waters of Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass, including those in Gulf
County. The shaded areas represent what will be open to recreational
gag grouper harvest between April 1 and June 30.
Pictured above is the western boundary of the April 1-June 30 gag
grouper recreational harvest.
Pictured above is the eastern boundary of the April 1-June 30 gag
grouper recreational harvest season.
For more information:
Gag and Red Grouper Management in Gulf of Mexico waters
Red Grouper increase in Federal Waters
The recreational red grouper bag limit for Gulf of Mexico
federal waters was increased Nov. 2, 2011, from two to four
fish in the four-fish grouper aggregate bag limit.
The FWC Commissioners increased the red grouper bag limit from
two fish to four fish in Gulf of Mexico state
waters (excluding Monroe County) at the November meeting. The new
rule took effect on December 30, 2011.
Recent Gag Grouper Management
History:
- 2009 - Stock assessment update indicates Gulf of Mexico gag
grouper are overfished and undergoing overfishing, which means
more fish are being removed from the water and there are not
enough fish in the water for populations to remain sustainable.
-
In response, NOAA Fisheries Service prohibits the
recreational harvest of gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico
federal waters from January 1 through May
31, 2011, as part of an interim rule.
-
Feb. 2011 - Federal closure is
extended through the end of 2011 with the exception
of a Sept. 16 through Nov. 15 recreational open season.
-
April 2011 - FWC Commissioners decide to close state
waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding Monroe County,
to the recreational harvest of gag grouper from June 1
through Dec. 31, 2011, with the exception of a fall
harvest season Sept. 16 through Nov. 15, 2011.
-
Aug. 2011 - Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
(Council) takes final action to set long-term management
measures for gag grouper in
federal
waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These measures include:
- Set the recreational gag grouper harvest season
to July 1 through Oct. 31 for Gulf federal waters
- Reduce the commercial gag grouper size limit
from 24" to 22" total length (TL)
-
Nov. 2011 - NOAA Fisheries extends the federal
closure through June 2, 2012.
- Nov. 2011 - FWC Commissioners continue the gag
grouper closure in state waters through January
31, 2012. The fishery closes annually during February and March.
- Feb. 2012 - FWC Commissioners adopt new management measures
for Gulf of Mexico gag grouper including setting the
recreational open season from July 1 through Oct. 31 and
lowering the minimum commercial size limit from 24 inches to 22
inches total length. The Commission also votes to approve an
April 1, 2012, through June 30, 2012, gag grouper harvest season
for state waters off Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla and Franklin
counties, including Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass. This area
of state waters will be closed to recreational gag grouper
harvest for the remainder of the year.