What/When:
- Effective April 26, 2024, the 2024 commercial annual catch limit for gag in federal waters of the South Atlantic is 62,922 pounds gutted weight.
- The harvest reduction is effective for the 2024 commercial gag fishing season, which opens May 1, 2024.
Why This Reduction is Happening:
- NOAA Fisheries must reduce the 2024 commercial annual catch limit as commercial landings in 2023 exceeded the commercial catch limit, the combined commercial and recreational catch limit was exceeded in 2023, and gag are overfished.
- NOAA Fisheries must reduce the catch limit by the overage amount from 2023.
- The current annual catch limits were implemented on October 23, 2023, through the final rule for Amendment 53 to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic Region.
- The final rule also reduced the commercial trip limits for gag to end overfishing and rebuild the stock.
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-I/.
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, 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