These are the latest fishing regulations for grouper in the Gulf Of Mexico. There will be an open season for both Federal and State waters from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15. This is only for 2011.
Gulf of Mexico (except all state waters of Monroe County)
Updated: June 1, 2011
2011 Gag Grouper Closure and Fall Harvest Season
in Federal and State Waters
The latest stock assessment indicates that gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico are overfished and undergoing overfishing. NOAA Fisheries Service recently announced interim rules that prohibit recreational harvest of gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters until long-term management measures for gag grouper can be developed.
The first interim rule prohibited harvest of Gulf gag grouper in federal waters through May 31, 2011. At its February meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council discussed a second interim rule that would continue the interim gag grouper closure through the end of 2011, but also allow for a recreational open season for gag grouper in Gulf federal waters from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15. This rule has been approved by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
These closures also prohibit anyone on board a vessel for which a federal commercial or charter/headboat permit for the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish fishery has been issued from harvesting or possessing gag grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The FWC Commissioners approved rules that closed state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding Monroe County, to the recreational harvest of gag grouper from June 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, with the exception of a fall harvest season September 16 through November 15, 2011. These rules will be in effect for 2011 only.
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