2023 Gag Grouper Season Closing Early in Federal Gulf of Mexico Waters

The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Division has introduced one other interim measure this week on gag grouper leisure season. Earlier this yr, we already coated the delay of the leisure season for gag grouper, which began on September 1st. Effectively, now NOAA has introduced that the 2023 gag grouper leisure season in federal waters goes to shut at 12:01 a.m., native time, on October 19, 2023. The gag grouper leisure will then keep closed for the rest of 2023 and on till the 2024 leisure fishing season reopens. This early closure is because of preliminary experiences coming into NOAA Fisheries stating that there was a higher-than-expected catch fee. Projections say that the annual catch restrict of 403,759 kilos will probably be reached on October 19, 2023.

Key Messages of Gag Grouper Federal Season Closure

• What/When/The place – Leisure harvest of gag in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) will shut at 12:01 a.m., native time, on October 19, 2023.
• Gag leisure harvest will probably be closed till the 2024 fishing season opens.
• Interim measures to cut back overfishing of gag acknowledged that the leisure season would start on September 1, 2023, and finish on November 10, 2023, until NOAA Fisheries tasks that the gag leisure annual catch restrict can be met earlier than that date.
• Projections of leisure catch and energy information point out the leisure Gulf gag annual catch restrict of 403,759 kilos gutted weight will probably be reached on October 19, 2023.
• Preliminary experiences point out excessive catch charges of gag this yr, partially due to adjustments within the season begin from June 1 to September 1.
• In accordance with the laws, NOAA Fisheries should shut harvest when the leisure annual catch restrict has been met or is projected to be met.
• Shortening the season might also mitigate the potential for a quota overage, which might end in a discount within the annual catch restrict, annual catch goal, and season size for the 2024 gag leisure season.
• Throughout the leisure closure, the bag and possession restrict is zero for gag in or from federal waters of the Gulf.
• The prohibition on possession of Gulf gag additionally applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a sound federal constitution vessel/headboat allow for Gulf reef fish.

Eugene L.

Fishing Author for AllOutdoor.com An avid angler since I used to be little, based mostly out of the South East United States.