South Atlantic Historical Recreational Landings and Annual Catch Limits (2018-2023)
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center has provided the following preliminary landings estimates for species in the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s area of jurisdiction subject to annual catch limits (ACLs).
This page was updated on: 3/27/2025
- SEASONAL CLOSURES: South Atlantic Seasons and Closures
- TRIP LIMITS AND BAG LIMITS: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
- FOR THE MOST CURRENT FEDERAL REGULATIONS: Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 622 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic
- OTHER FISHING YEAR LANDINGS
- FOR ALL LANDINGS: Southeast Region Annual Catch Limit Monitoring
The survey to estimate recreational landings has changed over the years. Details of the changes can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/recreational-fishing-data.
The different recreational surveys are listed in the tables as MRFSS, CHTS, and FES. MRFSS is the Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey.
CHTS is the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey, and FES is the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey.
Preliminary Landings* for Fishing Year: January 1 - December 31, 2023
*by Two-month Wave
Species Complex | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Units | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
| Atlantic spadefish | 2,831 | 34 | 12,694 | 23,005 | 3,808 | 5 | 42,377 | 661,926 | CHTS | ww | 6% | CLOSED |
| Bar Jack | 398 | 9 | 934 | 8,721 | 35 | 1,578 | 11,675 | 49,021 | CHTS | ww | 24% | CLOSED |
| Black groupera | 12 | 84 | 15,904 | 1,382 | 958 | 10,991 | 29,331 | 165,750 | MRFSS | ww | 18% | CLOSED |
| Blueline Tilefisha | 443 | 1,298 | 215,418 | 132,866 | 1,282 | 25 | 351,332 | 116,820 | CHTS | ww | 301% | CLOSED |
| Deepwater complexb | 2,228 | 3,269 | 8,994 | 5,620 | 3,224 | 4,815 | 28,150 | 38,628 | CHTS | ww | 73% | CLOSED |
| Dolphin | 128,496 | 518,850 | 4,306,342 | 1,661,778 | 1,674,531 | 189,974 | 8,479,971 | 22,850,811 | FES | ww | 37% | CLOSED |
| Gaga | 0 | 0 | 249,727 | 195,852 | 44,296 | 31 | 489,906 | 90,306 | FES | gw | 542% | CLOSED on 10/23/2023 |
| Golden tilefish | 12,956 | 1,057 | 22,465 | 1,037 | 0 | 1,172 | 38,687 | 2,559 | FES | numbers | 1512% | CLOSED on 7/17/2023 |
| Gray triggerfish | 12,784 | 16,707 | 66,547 | 67,372 | 42,257 | 6,601 | 212,268 | 404,675 | CHTS | ww | 52% | CLOSED |
| Gruntsc | 34,736 | 40,441 | 54,594 | 74,546 | 27,093 | 19,064 | 250,474 | 618,122 | CHTS | ww | 41% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish NC-GA | 0 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 988 | CHTS | numbers | 4% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish FLK-EFL | 25 | 0 | 1,787 | 257 | 1,735 | 2 | 3,806 | 37,671 | CHTS | numbers | 10% | CLOSED |
| Jacksd | 9,755 | 20,390 | 61,881 | 82,765 | 21,080 | 4,396 | 200,267 | 267,799 | CHTS | ww | 75% | CLOSED |
| Mutton snapper | 7,973 | 5,257 | 16,681 | 16,305 | 8,127 | 7,014 | 61,357 | 127,115 | CHTS | numbers | 48% | CLOSED |
| Porgiesa,e | 7,692 | 6,800 | 13,918 | 18,872 | 4,028 | 3,182 | 54,492 | 106,914 | CHTS | ww | 51% | CLOSED |
| Red Groupera | 115 | 1,565 | 38,098 | 11,434 | 4,162 | 18,300 | 73,674 | 90,720 | CHTS | ww | 81% | CLOSED |
| Red Porgya | 619 | 512 | 12,521 | 2,446 | 801 | 0 | 16,899 | 164,000 | CHTS | ww | 10% | CLOSED |
| Scampa | 125 | 553 | 32,280 | 8,173 | 1,071 | 168 | 42,370 | 116,369 | CHTS | ww | 36% | CLOSED |
| Shallow water groupera,f | 738 | 0 | 3,455 | 6,342 | 1,469 | 906 | 12,910 | 48,648 | CHTS | ww | 27% | CLOSED |
| Snappersg | 69,589 | 61,525 | 139,996 | 158,830 | 60,595 | 51,248 | 541,783 | 1,169,308 | CHTS | ww | 46% | CLOSED |
| Snowy Groupera | 0 | 1,152 | 1,348 | 629 | 228 | 0 | 3,357 | 5,315 | CHTS | numbers | 63% | CLOSED |
| Vermilion snapper | 17,637 | 20,593 | 121,608 | 133,574 | 61,191 | 5,672 | 360,275 | 427,520 | CHTS | ww | 84% | CLOSED |
| Wahoo | 64,001 | 438,876 | 697,457 | 309,359 | 375,899 | 179,887 | 2,065,479 | 2,814,613 | FES | ww | 73% | CLOSED |
| Wreckfisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19,455 | CHTS | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Red Snapper** | x | x | x | See FB23-033 | x | x | x | 29,656 | CHTS | ww | x | See FB23-033 |
| Goliath grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Nassau grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | gw | x | PROHIBITED |
| Speckled hind | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Warsaw grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
**The new gag ACL in FES was implemented on 10/23/2023.
***The new golden tilefish ACL in FES was implemented on 12/7/2023.
Note: Amendment 31 removed Atlantic cobia (from Georgia through New York) from the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan. Atlantic cobia is now managed under the purview of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission because the majority of Atlantic cobia landings are in state waters.
Preliminary Landings* for 2022-2023 Fishing Year: Season Varies (See Table)
*by Two-month Wave
Species Complex | Season | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Units | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
| Greater Amberjack | Mar 1 - Feb 28** | 204,284 | 197,029 | 83,143 | 23,323 | 20,185 | 13,848 | 541,812 | 1,167,837 | as reported | MRFSS | 46% | CLOSED |
| King Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 28** | 146,179 | 377,744 | 361,719 | 180,681 | 79,656 | 26,730 | 1,172,709 | 8,000,000 | CHTS | 15% | CLOSED | |
| Spanish Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 28** | 51,853 | 284,506 | 156,965 | 262,325 | 26,624 | 146,922 | 929,195 | 2,727,000 | ww | CHTS | 34% | CLOSED |
Species Complex | Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
| Yellowtail Snapper | Aug 1-Jul 31** | 27,378 | 174,061 | 29,998 | 101,861 | 90,594 | 90,188 | 25,414 | 539,494 | 1,440,990 | MRFSS | 37% | CLOSED |
Species Complex | Season | Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
| Black Sea Bass | Apr 1 - Mar 31** | 12,637 | 28,500 | 18,133 | 21,388 | 6,463 | 11,551 | 12,517 | 111,188 | 366,510 | CHTS | 30% | CLOSED |
Landings* for Fishing Year: January 1 - December 31, 2022
| Species Complex | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Units | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic spadefish | 10,731 | 0 | 26,297 | 176,238 | 2,378 | 0 | 215,644 | 661,926 | CHTS | ww | 33% | CLOSED |
| Bar Jack | 291 | 1,770 | 86 | 36 | 991 | 2 | 3,176 | 49,021 | CHTS | ww | 6% | CLOSED |
| Black groupera | 121 | 51 | 10,740 | 20,298 | 23,964 | 1,665 | 56,839 | 165,750 | MRFSS | ww | 34% | CLOSED |
| Blueline Tilefisha | 466 | 217 | 21,400 | 6,555 | 844 | 142 | 29,624 | 116,820 | CHTS | ww | 25% | CLOSED on 7/26/2022 |
| Deepwater complexb | 3,235 | 1,608 | 4,408 | 8,106 | 4,166 | 2,562 | 24,085 | 38,628 | CHTS | ww | 62% | CLOSED |
| Dolphin | 111,031 | 532,489 | 5,408,695 | 1,543,947 | 1,456,863 | 58,373 | 9,111,398 | 22,850,811 | FES | ww | 40% | CLOSED |
| Gaga | 0 | 0 | 21,531 | 10,517 | 3,984 | 6,371 | 42,403 | 359,832 | CHTS | gw | 12% | CLOSED |
| Golden tilefish | 389 | 471 | 491 | 535 | 0 | 471 | 2,357 | 2,316 | CHTS | numbers | 102% | CLOSED |
| Gray triggerfish | 6,028 | 12,724 | 84,088 | 104,653 | 32,142 | 25,746 | 265,381 | 404,675 | CHTS | ww | 66% | CLOSED |
| Gruntsc | 22,876 | 28,667 | 46,094 | 49,307 | 21,850 | 38,303 | 207,097 | 618,122 | CHTS | ww | 34% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish NC-GA | 1 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 988 | CHTS | numbers | 3% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish FLK-EFL | 0 | 522 | 1,107 | 1,866 | 2,556 | 1 | 6,052 | 33,358 | CHTS | numbers | 18% | CLOSED |
| Jacksd | 5,038 | 31,738 | 53,529 | 64,857 | 17,952 | 12,602 | 185,716 | 267,799 | CHTS | ww | 69% | CLOSED |
| Mutton snapper | 10,664 | 14,570 | 17,001 | 11,880 | 15,391 | 5,389 | 74,895 | 127,115 | CHTS | numbers | 59% | CLOSED |
| Porgiesa,e | 12,145 | 10,103 | 13,844 | 12,594 | 11,535 | 4,463 | 64,684 | 106,914 | CHTS | ww | 61% | CLOSED |
| Red Groupera | 707 | 29,408 | 16,031 | 16,791 | 6,042 | 4,444 | 73,423 | 90,720 | CHTS | ww | 81% | CLOSED |
| Red Porgya | 450 | 1,246 | 15,748 | 5,974 | 1,609 | 26 | 25,053 | 164,000 | CHTS | ww | 15% | CLOSED |
| Scampa | 159 | 70 | 5,221 | 596 | 621 | 641 | 7,308 | 116,369 | CHTS | ww | 6% | CLOSED |
| Shallow water groupera,f | 6 | 574 | 4,149 | 2,406 | 2,050 | 891 | 10,076 | 48,648 | CHTS | ww | 21% | CLOSED |
| Snappersg | 50,051 | 42,364 | 91,380 | 160,998 | 103,495 | 41,740 | 490,028 | 1,169,308 | CHTS | ww | 42% | CLOSED |
| Snowy Groupera | 38 | 8 | 909 | 106 | 93 | 1,202 | 2,356 | 5,315 | CHTS | numbers | 44% | CLOSED |
| Vermilion snapper | 5,998 | 25,141 | 113,603 | 72,551 | 41,895 | 44,883 | 304,071 | 435,840 | CHTS | ww | 70% | CLOSED |
| Wahoo | 431,106 | 312,306 | 642,662 | 445,967 | 691,475 | 478,040 | 3,001,556 | 2,814,613 | FES | ww | 107% | CLOSED |
| Wreckfisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19,455 | CHTS | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Red Snapper** | x | x | x | See FB22-029 | x | x | x | 29,656 | CHTS | ww | x | CLOSED |
| Goliath grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Nassau grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | gw | x | PROHIBITED |
| Speckled hind | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Warsaw grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
*by Two-month Wave
Note: Amendment 31 removed Atlantic cobia (from Georgia through New York) from the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan. Atlantic cobia is now managed under the purview of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission because the majority of Atlantic cobia landings are in state waters.
Landings* for 2021-2022 Fishing Year: Season Varies (See Table)
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Season | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Units | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Amberjack | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 189,225 | 196,976 | 80,184 | 23,398 | 19,934 | 18,967 | 528,684 | 1,167,837 | as reported | MRFSS | 45% | CLOSED |
| King Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 359,005 | 586,852 | 617,491 | 200,072 | 110,367 | 39,568 | 1,913,355 | 8,000,000 | CHTS | 24% | CLOSED | |
| Spanish Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 319,718 | 133,030 | 409,128 | 359,076 | 372,276 | 33,757 | 1,626,985 | 2,727,000 | ww | CHTS | 60% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail Snapper | Aug 1-Jul 31** | 55,946 | 58,680 | 79,786 | 32,080 | 183,199 | 83,796 | 28,212 | 521,698 | 1,440,990 | MRFSS | 36% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea Bass | Apr 1 - Mar 31** | 13,121 | 24,997 | 15,339 | 14,680 | 22,073 | 18,993 | 9,202 | 118,407 | 366,510 | CHTS | 32% | CLOSED |
Preliminary Landings* for Fishing Year: January 1 - December 31, 2021
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Units | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic spadefish | 9 | 1,535 | 49,919 | 8,823 | 3,354 | 37 | 63,677 | 661,926 | CHTS | ww | 10% | CLOSED |
| Bar Jack | 3 | 1,654 | 123 | 11 | 1,222 | 52 | 3,065 | 49,021 | CHTS | ww | 6% | CLOSED |
| Black groupera | 150 | 182 | 40,580 | 14,069 | 9,379 | 7,840 | 72,200 | 165,750 | MRFSS | ww | 44% | CLOSED |
| Blueline Tilefisha | 116 | 256 | 57,164 | 109,403 | 227 | 0 | 167,166 | 116,820 | CHTS | ww | 143% | CLOSED |
| Deepwater complexb | 1,874 | 11,337 | 355 | 6,900 | 4,717 | 901 | 26,084 | 38,628 | CHTS | ww | 68% | CLOSED |
| Dolphin | 78,891 | 147,926 | 1,076,713 | 674,363 | 696,417 | 74,705 | 2,749,015 | 13,810,361 | CHTS | ww | 20% | CLOSED |
| Gaga | 0 | 0 | 46,766 | 21,878 | 11,137 | 2,570 | 82,351 | 359,832 | CHTS | gw | 23% | CLOSED |
| Golden tilefish | 1,132 | 0 | 1,576 | 108 | 257 | 0 | 3,073 | 2,316 | CHTS | numbers | 133% | CLOSED on 9/20/21 |
| Gray triggerfish | 40,306 | 25,552 | 73,859 | 75,394 | 180,429 | 8,201 | 403,741 | 404,675 | CHTS | ww | 100% | CLOSED |
| Gruntsc | 115,251 | 43,694 | 44,051 | 67,873 | 42,414 | 23,033 | 336,316 | 618,122 | CHTS | ww | 54% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish NC-GA | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 42 | 988 | CHTS | numbers | 4% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish FLK-EFL | 0 | 0 | 4,052 | 351 | 2,727 | 1 | 7,131 | 29,096 | CHTS | numbers | 25% | CLOSED |
| Jacksd | 106,601 | 21,767 | 36,360 | 118,690 | 55,840 | 7,713 | 346,971 | 267,799 | CHTS | ww | 130% | CLOSED |
| Mutton snapper | 20,089 | 16,899 | 15,925 | 12,251 | 13,447 | 21,735 | 100,346 | 127,115 | CHTS | numbers | 79% | CLOSED |
| Porgiesa,e | 17,651 | 25,612 | 17,777 | 26,699 | 8,545 | 14,670 | 110,954 | 106,914 | CHTS | ww | 104% | CLOSED |
| Red Groupera | 321 | 859 | 26,680 | 8,453 | 7,849 | 60,826 | 104,988 | 90,720 | CHTS | ww | 116% | CLOSED |
| Red Porgya | 898 | 1,769 | 11,435 | 7,285 | 22,562 | 356 | 44,305 | 164,000 | CHTS | ww | 27% | CLOSED |
| Scampa | 80 | 84 | 5,822 | 8,004 | 3,315 | 203 | 17,508 | 116,369 | CHTS | ww | 15% | CLOSED |
| Shallow water groupera,f | 1,438 | 4 | 3,434 | 5,214 | 1,899 | 774 | 12,763 | 48,648 | CHTS | ww | 26% | CLOSED |
| Snappersg | 63,634 | 46,830 | 75,205 | 194,705 | 110,256 | 39,168 | 529,798 | 1,169,308 | CHTS | ww | 45% | CLOSED |
| Snowy Groupera | 101 | 131 | 539 | 379 | 32 | 7 | 1,189 | 5,315 | CHTS | numbers | 22% | CLOSED |
| Vermilion snapper | 65,898 | 28,513 | 147,510 | 118,670 | 122,099 | 24,400 | 507,090 | 450,560 | CHTS | ww | 113% | CLOSED |
| Wahoo | 35,621 | 32,036 | 44,982 | 54,860 | 122,097 | 14,564 | 304,160 | 1,724,418 | CHTS | ww | 18% | CLOSED |
| Wreckfisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19,455 | CHTS | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Red Snapper** | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 29,656 | CHTS | ww | x | CLOSED |
| Goliath grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Nassau grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | gw | x | PROHIBITED |
| Speckled hind | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Warsaw grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
Note: Amendment 31 removed Atlantic cobia (from Georgia through New York) from the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan. Atlantic cobia is now managed under the purview of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission because the majority of Atlantic cobia landings are in state waters.
Preliminary Landings* for 2020-2021 Fishing Year: Season Varies (See Table)
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Season | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Units | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Amberjack | Mar 1 - Feb 29 | 46,035 | 240,066 | 182,603 | 52,273 | 27,526 | 78,394 | 626,897 | 1,167,837 | as reported | MRFSS | 54% | CLOSED |
| King Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 91,404 | 556,998 | 608,055 | 298,252 | 156,852 | 192,959 | 1,904,520 | 8,000,000 | CHTS | 24% | CLOSED | |
| Spanish Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 54,959 | 229,994 | 335,080 | 504,053 | 125,880 | 221,480 | 1,471,446 | 2,727,000 | ww | CHTS | 54% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail Snapper | Aug 1-Jul 31 | 33,611 | 26,032 | 86,955 | 42,291 | 218,598 | 185,151 | 57,390 | 650,028 | 1,440,990 | MRFSS | 45% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea Bass | Apr 1 - Mar 31 | 3,243 | 27,353 | 35,056 | 10,180 | 14,330 | 1,442 | 13,021 | 104,626 | 366,510 | CHTS | 29% | CLOSED |
*All landings include both MRFSS/MRIP and Headboat landings.
Landings* for Fishing Year: January 1 - December 31, 2020
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Units | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic spadefish | 680 | 32 | 31,040 | 110,188 | 1,468 | 310 | 143,718 | 661,926 | CHTS | ww | 22% | CLOSED |
| Bar Jack | 14 | 0 | 30 | 115 | 16 | 0 | 175 | 49,021 | CHTS | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Black groupera | 113 | 145 | 19,452 | 880 | 18,480 | 41,570 | 80,640 | 165,750 | MRFSS | ww | 49% | CLOSED |
| Blueline Tilefisha | 0 | 1,026 | 36,312 | 340,284 | 0 | 14,631 | 392,253 | 116,820 | CHTS | ww | 336% | CLOSED |
| Cobia NY to GA | 0 | 1,828 | 352,908 | 165,625 | 23,895 | 17 | 544,273 | 620,000 | CHTS | as reported | 88% | CLOSED |
| Deepwater complexb | 72 | 550 | 2,965 | 3,209 | 12,523 | 124 | 19,443 | 38,628 | CHTS | ww | 50% | CLOSED |
| Dolphin | 8,465 | 220,386 | 1,405,198 | 594,737 | 256,887 | 67,670 | 2,553,343 | 13,810,361 | CHTS | ww | 18% | CLOSED |
| Gaga | 0 | 13 | 33,400 | 13,713 | 2,099 | 899 | 50,124 | 348,194 | CHTS | gw | 14% | CLOSED |
| Golden tilefish | 1,810 | 0 | 921 | 60 | 0 | 103 | 2,894 | 2,316 | CHTS | numbers | 125% | CLOSED |
| Gray triggerfish | 5,664 | 15,818 | 117,705 | 138,897 | 49,627 | 30,912 | 358,623 | 404,675 | CHTS | ww | 89% | CLOSED |
| Gruntsc | 31,420 | 42,916 | 40,968 | 73,582 | 30,484 | 19,665 | 239,035 | 618,122 | CHTS | ww | 39% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish NC-GA | 0 | 0 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 217 | 263 | 988 | CHTS | numbers | 27% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish FLK-EFL | 0 | 0 | 14 | 384 | 288 | 2,374 | 3,060 | 18,617 | CHTS | numbers | 16% | CLOSED |
| Jacksd | 1,937 | 20,475 | 52,617 | 87,516 | 17,046 | 13,315 | 192,906 | 267,799 | CHTS | ww | 72% | CLOSED |
| Mutton snapper | 83,155 | 3,001 | 10,410 | 5,638 | 5,785 | 18,042 | 126,031 | 127,115 | CHTS | numbers | 99% | CLOSED |
| Porgiesa,e | 7,613 | 6,733 | 10,031 | 16,028 | 8,783 | 8,602 | 57,790 | 106,914 | CHTS | ww | 54% | CLOSED |
| Red Groupera,h | 1,053 | 901 | 40,197 | 16,142 | 10,456 | 33,029 | 101,778 | 90,720 | CHTS | ww | 112% | CLOSED |
| Red Porgya | 25 | 3,685 | 27,702 | 10,174 | 3,363 | 248 | 45,197 | 164,000 | CHTS | ww | 28% | CLOSED |
| Scampa | 143 | 0 | 11,485 | 8,590 | 1,053 | 484 | 21,755 | 116,369 | CHTS | ww | 19% | CLOSED |
| Shallow water groupera,f | 271 | 358 | 7,686 | 3,326 | 1,301 | 424 | 13,366 | 48,648 | CHTS | ww | 27% | CLOSED |
| Snappersg | 58,313 | 88,731 | 57,309 | 118,193 | 78,888 | 42,439 | 443,873 | 1,169,308 | CHTS | ww | 38% | CLOSED |
| Snowy Groupera | 0 | 72 | 917 | 320 | 0 | 0 | 1,309 | 5,315 | CHTS | numbers | 25% | CLOSED |
| Vermilion snapper | 3,098 | 29,097 | 88,313 | 169,093 | 36,395 | 14,237 | 340,233 | 406,080 | CHTS | ww | 84% | CLOSED |
| Wahoo | 1,202 | 18,308 | 54,628 | 177,174 | 136,412 | 15,235 | 402,959 | 1,724,418 | CHTS | ww | 23% | CLOSED |
| Wreckfisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,315 | CHTS | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Red Snapper** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42,772 | 0 | 0 | 42,772 | 29,656 | CHTS | numbers | 144% | CLOSED |
| Goliath grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Nassau grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | gw | x | PROHIBITED |
| Speckled hind | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Warsaw grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
Landings* for 2019-2020 Fishing Year: Season Varies (See Table)
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Season | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Units | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Amberjack | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 323,212 | 307,645 | 192,845 | 2,617 | 36,563 | 72,286 | 935,168 | 1,167,837 | ww | MRFSS | 80% | CLOSED |
| King Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 230,473 | 887,124 | 1,216,168 | 139,743 | 77,830 | 77,501 | 2,628,839 | 8,000,000 | As reported | CHTS | 33% | CLOSED |
| Spanish Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 29** | 155,993 | 505,372 | 431,209 | 133,554 | 12,575 | 392,268 | 1,630,971 | 2,727,000 | As reported | CHTS | 60% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail Snapper | Aug 1-Jul 31** | 29,637 | 17,364 | 63,349 | 204,885 | 30,088 | 112,331 | 35,078 | 492,732 | 1,440,990 | MRFSS | 34% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit (ww) | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea Bass | Apr 1 - Mar 31** | 19,399 | 59,863 | 60,791 | 9,584 | 9,881 | 6,222 | 4,455 | 170,195 | 433,200 | CHTS | 39% | CLOSED |
*All landings include both MRFSS/MRIP and Headboat landings.
Landings* for Fishing Year: January 1 - December 31, 2019
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Units | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic spadefish | 0 | 0 | 107,353 | 64,379 | 6,291 | 23 | 178,046 | 661,926 | CHTS | ww | 27% | CLOSED |
| Bar Jack | 0 | 42 | 7,343 | 1,094 | 2 | 0 | 8,481 | 49,021 | CHTS | ww | 17% | CLOSED |
| Black groupera | 2,456 | 212 | 10,858 | 1,983 | 359 | 5,738 | 21,606 | 165,750 | MRFSS | ww | 13% | CLOSED |
| Blueline Tilefisha | 10,450 | 1,855 | 38,298 | 58,662 | 169 | 679 | 110,113 | 87,277 | CHTS | ww | 126% | CLOSED |
| Cobia NY to GA | 0 | 774 | 286,805 | 362,161 | 14,078 | 72 | 663,891 | 620,000 | CHTS | as reported | 107% | CLOSED on 9/4/19 |
| Deepwater complexb | 87 | 21,498 | 6,168 | 13,464 | 914 | 2,185 | 44,316 | 38,628 | CHTS | ww | 115% | CLOSED on 12/11/19 |
| Dolphin | 41,242 | 393,002 | 1,857,846 | 1,113,039 | 456,883 | 39,295 | 3,901,307 | 13,810,361 | CHTS | ww | 28% | CLOSED |
| Gaga | 0 | 0 | 68,325 | 20,841 | 4,299 | 929 | 94,394 | 348,194 | CHTS | gw | 27% | CLOSED |
| Golden tilefish | 15,116 | 237 | 1 | 284 | 0 | 0 | 15,638 | 2,316 | CHTS | numbers | 675% | CLOSED on 6/17/2019 |
| Gray triggerfish | 13,138 | 26,981 | 152,428 | 104,657 | 33,333 | 11,313 | 341,850 | 404,675 | CHTS | ww | 84% | CLOSED |
| Gruntsc | 40,771 | 23,838 | 133,079 | 73,510 | 22,962 | 21,462 | 315,622 | 618,122 | CHTS | ww | 51% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish NC-GA | 0 | 0 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 988 | CHTS | numbers | 11% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish FLK-EFL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,093 | 0 | 0 | 2,093 | 18,617 | CHTS | numbers | 11% | CLOSED |
| Jacksd | 63,944 | 75,576 | 172,065 | 71,071 | 18,979 | 1,572 | 403,207 | 267,799 | CHTS | ww | 151% | CLOSED on 9/25/2019 |
| Mutton snapper | 16,213 | 32,753 | 30,698 | 12,038 | 6,780 | 8,501 | 106,983 | 124,766 | CHTS | numbers | 86% | CLOSED |
| Porgiesa,e | 15,032 | 15,007 | 17,010 | 17,490 | 21,360 | 7,470 | 93,369 | 106,914 | CHTS | ww | 87% | CLOSED |
| Red Groupera | 3,840 | 2,525 | 72,683 | 14,854 | 4,778 | 7,728 | 106,408 | 84,000 | CHTS | ww | 127% | CLOSED on 9/25/2019 |
| Red Porgya | 40 | 3,543 | 16,561 | 4,759 | 3,336 | 1,300 | 29,539 | 164,000 | CHTS | ww | 18% | CLOSED |
| Scampa | 211 | 567 | 16,062 | 2,985 | 3,225 | 717 | 23,767 | 116,369 | CHTS | ww | 20% | CLOSED |
| Shallow water groupera,f | 0 | 2 | 5,996 | 2,223 | 718 | 1,488 | 10,427 | 48,648 | CHTS | ww | 21% | CLOSED |
| Snappersg | 67,409 | 71,170 | 149,940 | 312,316 | 47,748 | 33,955 | 682,538 | 1,169,308 | CHTS | ww | 58% | CLOSED |
| Snowy Groupera | 0 | 260 | 463 | 1,052 | 20 | 151 | 1,946 | 5,315 | CHTS | numbers | 37% | CLOSED |
| Vermilion snapper | 16,174 | 57,437 | 162,945 | 131,715 | 40,394 | 17,510 | 426,175 | 406,080 | CHTS | ww | 105% | CLOSED |
| Wahoo | 195,354 | 89,388 | 45,098 | 120,626 | 221,680 | 89,971 | 762,117 | 1,724,418 | CHTS | ww | 44% | CLOSED |
| Wreckfisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,315 | CHTS | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Red Snapper** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49,674 | 0 | 0 | 49,674 | 29,656 | CHTS | ww | 168% | CLOSED |
| Goliath grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Nassau grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | gw | x | PROHIBITED |
| Speckled hind | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Warsaw grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | MRFSS | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
**Red snapper recreational sector will open for harvest in South Atlantic federal waters during 2019 for the following two weekends:
- July 12, 13, and 14, 2019 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) – The recreational season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 12, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 15, 2019.
- July 19 and 20, 2019 (Friday and Saturday) – The recreational season opens again at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 19, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 21, 2019.
The recreational annual catch limit will be 29,656 fish. The recreational bag limit will be one red snapper per person per day. This applies to private and charterboat/headboat vessels (the captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit). There will be no minimum or maximum size limits for the recreational sector. See FB19-011 for more information.
Landings* for Fishing Year: January 1 - December 31, 2018
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Units | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic spadefish | 14 | 0 | 40,403 | 290,754 | 7,694 | 0 | 338,865 | 661,926 | ww | 51% | CLOSED |
| Bar Jack | 27 | 74 | 111 | 51 | 24 | 0 | 287 | 49,021 | ww | 1% | CLOSED |
| Black groupera | 238 | 718 | 6,617 | 9,682 | 1,298 | 102,668 | 121,221 | 165,750 | ww | 73% | CLOSED |
| Blueline Tilefisha | 268 | 5,334 | 36,203 | 74,348 | 444 | 0 | 116,597 | 87,277 | ww | 134% | CLOSED |
| Cobia NY to GA | 0 | 5,871 | 681,313 | 508,502 | 32,108 | 25 | 1,227,819 | 620,000 | as reported | 198% | CLOSED |
| Deepwater complexb | 281 | 1,840 | 14,483 | 673 | 416 | 797 | 18,490 | 38,628 | ww | 48% | CLOSED |
| Dolphin | 67,984 | 494,109 | 2,658,370 | 1,329,508 | 1,892,343 | 284,241 | 6,726,555 | 13,810,361 | ww | 49% | CLOSED |
| Gaga | 0 | 34 | 49,831 | 22,021 | 35,190 | 22,279 | 129,355 | 348,194 | gw | 37% | CLOSED |
| Golden tilefish | 497 | 786 | 12 | 34 | 1,552 | 231 | 3,112 | 2,187 | numbers | 142% | CLOSED on 8/28/2018 |
| Gray triggerfish | 4,350 | 25,449 | 96,568 | 71,920 | 118,805 | 12,489 | 329,581 | 404,675 | ww | 81% | CLOSED |
| Gruntsc | 49,445 | 89,842 | 76,065 | 177,549 | 35,078 | 15,371 | 443,350 | 618,122 | ww | 72% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish NC-GA | 0 | 0 | 71 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 75 | 988 | numbers | 8% | CLOSED |
| Hogfish FLK-EFL | 1 | 0 | 403 | 538 | 6,397 | 0 | 7,339 | 18,617 | numbers | 39% | CLOSED |
| Jacksd | 2,114 | 32,184 | 53,550 | 177,172 | 24,253 | 8,152 | 297,425 | 267,799 | ww | 111% | CLOSED on 12/18/2018 |
| Mutton snapper | 7,888 | 6,783 | 17,578 | 23,362 | 11,937 | 8,943 | 76,491 | 121,318 | numbers | 63% | CLOSED |
| Porgiesa,e | 8,938 | 17,464 | 23,689 | 23,039 | 17,366 | 5,974 | 96,470 | 106,914 | ww | 90% | CLOSED |
| Red Groupera | 3,086 | 8,023 | 16,879 | 76,195 | 32,567 | 17,094 | 153,844 | 77,840 | ww | 198% | CLOSED on 12/12/2018 |
| Red Porgya | 464 | 7,151 | 14,120 | 87,360 | 3,360 | 269 | 112,724 | 164,000 | ww | 69% | CLOSED |
| Scampa | 48 | 555 | 5,396 | 6,666 | 722 | 668 | 14,055 | 116,369 | ww | 12% | CLOSED |
| Shallow water groupera,f | 16 | 1,536 | 3,414 | 5,816 | 3,211 | 3,557 | 17,550 | 48,648 | ww | 36% | CLOSED |
| Snappersg | 87,664 | 169,356 | 190,133 | 288,229 | 138,916 | 57,571 | 931,869 | 1,169,308 | ww | 80% | CLOSED |
| Snowy Groupera | 0 | 767 | 828 | 1,160 | 11 | 0 | 2,766 | 4,983 | numbers | 56% | CLOSED |
| Vermilion snapper | 7,264 | 31,582 | 79,326 | 139,403 | 44,798 | 11,962 | 314,335 | 406,080 | ww | 77% | CLOSED |
| Wahoo | 48,531 | 48,015 | 131,262 | 86,943 | 98,586 | 53,333 | 466,670 | 1,724,418 | ww | 27% | CLOSED |
| Wreckfisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20,315 | ww | 0% | CLOSED |
| Red Snapper** | x | x | x | ***See FB18-050for more information | x | x | x | 0 | ww | x | CLOSED |
| Goliath grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Nassau grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | gw | x | PROHIBITED |
| Speckled hind | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
| Warsaw grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | ww | x | PROHIBITED |
**Red snapper recreational sector opened for harvest in South Atlantic federal waters during 2018 for the following two weekends:
- 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 10, 2018, and close 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 13, 2018.
- 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 17, 2018, and close 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 20, 2018.
The recreational annual catch limit was 29,656 fish. During the three-day openings, the recreational bag limit for red snapper was one fish per person per day with no minimum size limit. See FB18-50 for more information.
Preliminary Landings* for 2018-2019 Fishing Year: Season Varies (See Table)
*by Two-month Wave
| Species Complex | Season | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Amberjack | Mar 1 - Feb 28** | 70,735 | 277,394 | 101,911 | 18,592 | 104,902 | 100,234 | 673,768 | 1,167,837 | MRFSS | 58% | CLOSED |
| King Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 28 | 141,692 | 867,178 | 797,391 | 282,885 | 194,456 | 203,374 | 2,486,976 | 8,900,000 | MRIP | 28% | CLOSED |
| Spanish Mackerel | Mar 1 - Feb 28 | 43,839 | 323,176 | 281,336 | 288,502 | 110,297 | 150,242 | 1,197,392 | 2,727,000 | MRIP | 44% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowtail Snapper | Aug 1-Jul 31** | 56,355 | 108,552 | 83,692 | 71,938 | 125,708 | 145,447 | 33,379 | 625,070 | 1,440,990 | MRFSS | 43% | CLOSED |
| Species Complex | Season | Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | Dataset | Percent of ACL | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sea Bass | Apr 1 - Mar 31** | 16,281 | 62,013 | 52,431 | 8,215 | 8,061 | 22,494 | 18,840 | 188,335 | 1,001,177 | MRIP | 19% | CLOSED |
*All Units are in pounds whole weight (ww). All landings include both MRFSS/MRIP and Headboat landings.
**Fishing seasons were modified in Regulatory Amendment 14 for black sea bass and greater amberjack. The fishing season for Yellowtail snapper was modified in Regulatory Amendment 25, which took effect on August 12, 2016.
Definitions
ww: pounds whole weight; gw: pounds gutted weight; numbers: number of fish
Recreational Dataset: All landings are MRIP, except the following species are MRFSS: Black grouper, Red snapper, Goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, Speckled hind, and Warsaw grouper. The datasets used to monitor the recreational ACLs for some stocks were changed from MRFSS to the MRIP. The dataset to monitor the other stocks will be changed to MRIP in future amendments. Landings include MRIP or MRIP converted to MRFSS and headboat landings.
Notes
(a) There is a seasonal regulation in place; For a list of seasonal closures and harvest limitations, please visit South Atlantic Seasonal Closures and Harvest Limitations
(b) Deepwater Complex: yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, blackfin snapper
(c) Grunts: White grunt, margate, sailor's choice, tomtate
(d) Jacks: Almaco jack, banded rudderfish, lesser amberjack
(e) Porgies: Jolthead, knobbed, saucereye, whitebone, scup
(f) Shallow Water Grouper: Red hind, rock hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth grouper
(g) Snappers: Gray, lane, cubera
(h) The majority of red grouper landings came north of Key West (Gulf of Mexico region). These Key West red grouper landings were not applied to the South Atlantic ACL.
Source: Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Quota Monitoring Program, Miami, Florida.
For additional information contact Mary Vara at 727-824-5305.
Return to the Southeast Region Annual Catch Limit Monitoring page