2023 Gag Grouper Season Closing Early in Federal Gulf of Mexico Waters
Eugene L. 10.04.23
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Department has announced another interim measure this week on gag grouper recreational season. Earlier this year, we already covered the delay of the recreational season for gag grouper, which started on September 1st. Well, now NOAA has announced that the 2023 gag grouper recreational season in federal waters is going to close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 19, 2023. The gag grouper recreational will then stay closed for the remainder of 2023 and on until the 2024 recreational fishing season reopens. This early closure is due to preliminary reports coming into NOAA Fisheries stating that there was a higher-than-expected catch rate. Projections say that the annual catch limit of 403,759 pounds will be reached on October 19, 2023.
Key Messages of Gag Grouper Federal Season Closure
- What/When/Where – Recreational harvest of gag in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 19, 2023.
- Gag recreational harvest will be closed until the 2024 fishing season opens.
- Interim measures to reduce overfishing of gag stated that the recreational season would begin on September 1, 2023, and end on November 10, 2023, unless NOAA Fisheries projects that the gag recreational annual catch limit would be met before that date.
- Projections of recreational catch and effort data indicate the recreational Gulf gag annual catch limit of 403,759 pounds gutted weight will be reached on October 19, 2023.
- Preliminary reports indicate high catch rates of gag this year, in part because of changes in the season start from June 1 to September 1.
- In accordance with the regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close harvest when the recreational annual catch limit has been met or is projected to be met.
- Shortening the season may also mitigate the potential for a quota overage, which would result in a reduction in the annual catch limit, annual catch target, and season length for the 2024 gag recreational season.
- During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limit is zero for gag in or from federal waters of the Gulf.
- The prohibition on possession of Gulf gag also applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish.
