2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Preliminary Gulf of America Stock Annual Catch Limit Landings
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center has provided the following preliminary landings estimates for species subject to stock annual catch limits (ACLs).
This page was last updated on: 4/28/2025
- FISHING REGS & SEASONAL CLOSURES: Gulf Fishing Regulations and Seasonal Closures
- FOR THE MOST CURRENT FEDERAL REGULATIONS: Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 622 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico*, and South Atlantic.
- HISTORICAL:
- FOR ALL LANDINGS: Southeast Region Annual Catch Limit Monitoring
2025 Preliminary Inseason Landings for Species with Stock Annual Catch Limits (ACL)
Date 2025 commercial landings through: 4/28/2025.
Date commercial IFQ landings available through: 4/28/2025
Date recreational landings available: Yellowtail Snapper and Spanish Mackerel landings available through Oct 31, 2024. Other recreational data will become available once Wave 1 (Jan/Feb 2025) data is complete and processed.
| Species Complex | Season | Sector | Sector Landings (lb)* | Total Landings (lb)* | ACL(lb)* | ACL% | Dataset | Current Status |
| Cobia | Jan 1 - Dec 31 | Recreational | 0 | 3,901 | ACT = | ACT % = | FES | OPEN |
| 1,564,920 | 0.2 | |||||||
| Commercial | 3,901 | ACL = | ACL% = | N/A | ||||
| 1,738,800 | 0.2 | |||||||
| Cubera snapper | Recreational | 0 | 965 | 5,065 | 19.1 | MRFSS | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 965 | N/A | ||||||
| Deep water grouper(a)€ | Recreational | 0 | 136,600 | 1,105,000 | 12.4 | MRFSS | OPEN | |
| Commercial IFQ(b) | 136,600 | N/A | ||||||
| Gray snapper | Recreational | 0 | 28,425 | 5,728,000 | 0.5 | FES | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 28,425 | N/A | ||||||
| Hogfish(e) | Recreational | 0 | 4,760 | 150,400 | 3.2 | CHTS | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 4,760 | N/A | ||||||
| Jacks Complex(c) | Recreational | 0 | 7,629 | 312,000 | 2.4 | MRFSS | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 7,629 | N/A | ||||||
| Lane snapper | Recreational | 0 | 4,623 | 1,088,873 | 0.4 | FES | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 4,623 | N/A | ||||||
| Mid-water snapper(d) | Recreational | 0 | 32,395 | 166,000 | 19.5 | MRFSS | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 32,395 | N/A | ||||||
| Mutton Snapper(e) | Recreational | 0 | 18,141 | 143,694 | 12.6 | CHTS | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 18,141 | N/A | ||||||
| Shallow water grouper(f)€ | Recreational | 0 | 37,856 | 710,000 | 5.3 | MRFSS | OPEN | |
| Commercial IFQ(b) | 37,856 | N/A | ||||||
| Tilefishes(g)(e) | Recreational | 0 | 77,439 | 608,000 | 12.7 | MRFSS | OPEN | |
| Commercial IFQ(b) | 77,439 | N/A | ||||||
| Vermilion snapper | Recreational | 0 | 394,458 | 5,452,500 | 7.2 | FES | OPEN | |
| Commercial | 394,458 | N/A | ||||||
| Spanish Mackerel | Apr 1, 2024 - Mar 31, 2025 | Recreational | 713,775 | 1,107,704 | 11,300,000 | 9.8 | CHTS | |
| Commercial | 393,929 | N/A | ||||||
| Spanish Mackerel | Apr 1, 2025 - Mar 31, 2026 | Recreational | 0 | 44,492 | 11,300,000 | 0.4 | CHTS | OPEN |
| Commercial | 44,492 | N/A | ||||||
| Yellowtail snapper(e) | August 1, 2024-Jul 31, 2025 | Recreational | 35,679 | 191,862 | 901,125 | 21.3 | MRFSS | OPEN |
| Commercial | 156,183 | N/A | ||||||
| Yellowtail snapper(e) | August 1, 2025-Jul 31, 2026 | Recreational | 0 | 0 | 901,125 | 0.0 | MRFSS | |
| Commercial | 0 | N/A |
Recreational Dataset: MRIP-FES: Cobia, Gray snapper, Lane Snapper, Vermilion snapper. MRIP-CHTS: Hogfish, Mutton snapper, Spanish mackerel. MRFSS: Cubera snapper, Deep water grouper, Jacks complex, Mid-water snapper, Shallow water grouper, Tilefishes, Yellowtail snapper.
Definitions: Annual Catch Limit (ACL) is the amount of fish that can be harvested from the stock each year. The Annual Catch Target (ACT) is a harvest level set lower than the annual catch limit to create a buffer so that overharvest does not occur. Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS).
*Units: Whole Weight (ww): Cubera snapper, Gray snapper, Hogfish, Jacks complex, Lane snapper, Mid-water snapper, Mutton snapper, Vermillion snapper, Yellowtail snapper. Gutted Weight (gw): Deep water grouper, Shallow water grouper, Tilefishes. As Reported: Cobia, Spanish mackerel.
(a) Deep water grouper: Warsaw, Snowy, Speckled hind, Yellowedge
(b) The commercial sectors for Deep water grouper, Tilefishes, and Shallow water grouper are managed under the Gulf of America Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. Please visit the IFQ Landings Page for additional information. Landings on the IFQ site are updated in real time and therefore may be more comprehensive than the table above.
(c) Jacks Complex: Almaco jack, Banded rudderfish, Lesser amberjack
(d) Mid-water snapper: Silk, Wenchman, Blackfin, Queen snapper
(e) All MRFSS and MRIP Mutton snapper, Yellowtail snapper, Hogfish, Black grouper, Snowy grouper, and Blueline tilefish landings reported in Monroe County were assigned to the South Atlantic
(f) The Shallow water grouper (Black, Red, Scamp, Yellowmouth, Yellowfin) closure occurs from Feb 1 to March 31 in the portion of the Gulf EEZ seaward of coordinates defined in the Federal regulations at paragraph (d) of § 622.34, Seasonal and area closures designed to protect Gulf reef fish. These coordinates approximate the 20-fathom depth contour.
(g) Tilefishes: Golden, Goldface, and Blueline
More Information
- FISHERY BULLETINS: View or Sign up to stay up-to-date with fishery announcements.
- For more information on fishery management please visit the Gulf of America Branch.
Dealer Reporting Information
- Dealers in the Gulf of America and South Atlantic are required to have a federal Gulf and South Atlantic dealer permit and submit weekly, electronic reports. Reports must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. local time, every Tuesday. If no purchases are made, a no-purchase form must also be submitted online, once per week. Dealers may not purchase fish if they have not submitted timely reports and will not be able to renew their permits if reports are outstanding. Dealers can apply for a permit with the Southeast Regional Permits Office.
- Please see the Modifications to the Current Federally Permitted Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements in the Southeast Region for additional information.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.