According to NOAA Fisheries Service time has come for the seasonal closures for gag, red grouper, black grouper, and greater amberjack as well as changes to grouper regulations for federal waters. It advised the fishermen to check with state agencies for regulations in state waters. The following regulations are in effect for federal waters.
For the recreational fishery the season for gag will be closed February 1 – March 31, 2009, while for red grouper and black grouper it will be February 15 – March 14, 2009. The daily bag limits are two fish per person for gag; one fish per person for red grouper; and five fish per person for all grouper in aggregate.
For commercial fishery the season for gag, red grouper, and black grouper will be closed February 15 – March 14, 2009; while the commercial greater amberjack fishery will be closed March 1 – May 31, 2009. It is said that the possession, sale, or purchase of these species harvested from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Gulf of Mexico is prohibited during the closure.
The operator of a vessel with a valid federal commercial Gulf reef fish permit having greater amberjack aboard must have landed or sold those fish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, March 1, 2009. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 30B to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan for approval. This amendment proposes actions affecting gag and red grouper regulations. Amendment 30B has not yet been implemented, but an interim rule implemented the regulations pertaining to gag effective January 1, 2009.
