Amberjack fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is a matter of concern because NOAA is going to introduce a proposal that could threaten the harvest of amberjack. Fishermen complain that NOAA did the right thing this past fall by extending the recreational red snapper season due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
NOAA’s press release said that NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed a rule that, if approved and implemented, would establish a June 1 through July 31 seasonal closure for recreational harvest of greater amberjack in or from the Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The proposed rule is to maintain the rebuilding plan targets for the overfished greater amberjack resource, reduce the likelihood of exceeding the recreational quota for greater amberjack.
The rule also want to minimize in-season quota closures during peak recreational fishing months, and increase social and economic benefits for Gulf recreational fishers by maximizing the number of fishing days available to the recreational sector. That would basically wipe amberjack fishing out on a yearly basis for the recreational sector based on the fact the closure comes during the heat of the summer fishing period.
Expert said that if the closure is implemented, recreational anglers would have a period of three months before the season ends to fish for amberjack due to bad weather in the fall and winter that keeps boats at the dock.
