Key Messages:
NOAA Fisheries reminds commercial fishermen that there will no longer be any weekend or holiday closures during the king mackerel gillnet fishing season.
What This Means:
- In 2023, Framework Amendment 12 under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region and its final rule implemented regulations that:
- Removed the weekend and holiday closure for the gillnet component of the Gulf of Mexico migratory group king mackerel, and
- Retained the fishing season start date of the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For 2024, this fishery will open January 16th.
Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group King Mackerel Gillnet Component Management Measures:
- Fishing Year: July 1 - June 30
- Seasonal Closure: July 1 – Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
- Minimum Size Limit: 24-inch fork length
- Accountability Measures: In season closure and payback of any overage of the annual catch limit
- Trip Limit: 45,000 pounds landed weight*
- 2023/2024 annual catch limit: 671,328 pounds landed weight
* Whole weight and gutted weight are combined. Landed weight = “as reported”
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find more information on Framework Amendment 12?
- Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office.
By Mail: Kelli O’Donnell
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
By FAX: (727) 824-5308
By Phone: (727) 824-5305
- Framework Amendment 12 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/framework-12-modifications-commercial-gulf-king-mackerel-gillnet-fishing-season.
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 Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico 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, Florida 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.
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
