What/When:
- The commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone in federal waters will reopen for eight days at 12:01 a.m., (local time), on September 29, 2025, until 12:01 a.m., (local time), on October 7, 2025. The northern zone for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel includes federal waters off New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
- During the commercial reopening, the commercial trip limit is 3,500 pounds.
Why This Reopening Is Happening:
- On September 23, 2025, the Southeast Regional Administrator approved a quota transfer request of 75,000 pounds from the southern zone quota to the northern zone quota for the 2025/2026 fishing year.
- Therefore, the revised commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel for the 2025/2026 fishing year was increased from 912,670 pounds to 987,670 pounds for the northern zone.
- The commercial sector is projected to land the revised northern zone commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in eight days. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries is reopening harvest at 12:01 a.m. on September 29, 2025, and closing harvest at 12:01 a.m, on October 7, 2025, to reduce the likelihood and amount of any quota overage.
During and After the Reopening:
- The prohibition on sale or purchase during a closure for Spanish mackerel does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 2025, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
- During the closure, a person on board a vessel that has been issued a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for coastal migratory pelagic fish may continue to retain Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone under the recreational bag and possession limits, as long as the recreational sector for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel is open.
- Commercial harvest for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel northern zone will re-open on March 1, 2026, with a commercial quota of 662,670 pounds.
Background on the Quota Transfer:
- Originally, the 2025/2026 northern zone commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel was 662,670 pounds. The southern zone quota and adjusted quota was 2,667,330 pounds and 2,417,330 pounds, respectively.
- Regulations allow for quota transfers between the northern and southern zones with the approval of the Southeast Regional Administrator.
- On July 25, 2025, the Southeast Regional Administrator approved an earlier quota transfer request of 250,000 pounds from the southern zone quota to the northern zone quota for the 2025/2026 fishing year. Due to this quota transfer, the revised commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel for the 2025/2026 fishing year in the northern zone was increased from 662,670 pounds to 912,670 pounds. The revised commercial quota for the southern zone for the 2025/2026 fishing year was decreased by 250,000 pounds to 2,417,330 pounds, and the revised adjusted commercial quota was decreased to 2,167,330 pounds.
NOAA Fisheries closed commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel in the northern zone on September 20, 2025, because commercial landings were projected to reach the initial revised quota by that date.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-Q#subpart-Q.
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA’s Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of America Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of America Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida, now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information, contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Media Contact: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
