WHAT/WHEN/WHERE:
- Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) will open at 12:01 am on March 1, 2020, and close at 12:01 am, local time, on May 2, 2020.
- Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish is currently closed. The gray triggerfish fishery in Gulf federal waters is closed annually in January and February.
- The recreational fishing year for 2021 begins January 1, 2021. Recreational harvest will reopen March 1, 2021, following the January and February annual closure.
WHY THE GRAY TRIGGERFISH CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
- The 2020 recreational annual catch target is 217,100 pounds whole weight. Projections indicate that recreational landings of gray triggerfish will be met as of May 2, 2020.
- In accordance with the regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close harvest when the annual catch target has been or is projected to be met. This closure is needed to prevent overfishing of gray triggerfish (annual catch rate is too high).
DURING THE CLOSURE:
- During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limit are zero for gray triggerfish in or from federal waters of the Gulf.
- The prohibition on possession of Gulf gray triggerfish also applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish.
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:
- 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
Join us every other Friday on NOAA Fish Instagram for Rec Fish Friday!
Other contacts:
Media: Kim Amendola, 727-551-5707
Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
