2022 and 2023 Gulf of Mexico Recreational Landings and Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Annual Catch Targets (ACTs)
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center has provided the following preliminary landings estimates for species in the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s area of jurisdiction subject to annual catch limits (ACLs).
- Some species are managed under stock ACLs (one ACL for both recreational and commercial sectors). Please visit the Gulf of Mexico Stock ACL page for those species.
- FISHING REGS & SEASONAL CLOSURES: Gulf of Mexico 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
- OTHER LANDINGS:
- HISTORICAL: Historic Recreational Landings in the Gulf of Mexico
- RED SNAPPER RECREATIONAL: Historical Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Landings
- FOR ALL LANDINGS: Southeast Region Annual Catch Limit Monitoring
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 to reduce the risk of overharvest. Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP).
Units: As Reported: Cobia, King Mackerel; Gutted Weight (gw): Gag, Red grouper; Whole Weight (ww): Gray triggerfish, Red Snapper, Greater Amberjack
2023 Preliminary Gulf of Mexico Recreational Landings (lb) by Two-month Wave
Fishing Year January 1 - December 31
Updated 10/31/2023: 2023 recreational landings are preliminary. MRIP and Headboat landings are available from January 1 through October 31, 2023. 2023 LA Creel landings are available to December 24, 2023. No Texas 2023 landings are available at this time. RS for-hire landings updated 1/9/2024
| 2023 Gulf of Mexico Preliminary Recreational Landings (lb) by Two-month Wave Fishing Year January 1 - December 31 | ||||||||||||||
| Species Complex | Fixed Closed Months | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Total Reported Landings | ACT | ACL | %ACT | %ACL | Dataset | Quota Closure |
| Cobia east Florida | - | 60,215 | 75,104 | 37,315 | 395,881 | 26,849 | 25,903 | 621,267 | 796,536 | 885,040 | 78% | 70% | MRIP-FES | |
| Gag(a) | Jan 1- May 31(d) | 0 | 0 | 237 | 144 | 993,276 | 0 | 993,657 | 362,374 | 403,759 | 274% | 246% | MRIP-FES | CLOSED |
| Gray triggerfish | Jan 1- Feb 28 & Jun 1 - July 31 | 19 | 38,032 | 63,694 | 79,220 | 59,561 | 63,453 | 303,979 | 274,323 | 360,951 | 111% | 84% | MRIP-CHTS | |
| Greater Amberjack | SEE TABLE BELOW | |||||||||||||
| Red grouper(b) | - | 435,848 | 327,952 | 387,243 | 1,352,283 | 15,285 | 132 | 2,518,743 | 1,840,000 | 2,020,000 | 137% | 125% | MRIP-FES | CLOSED |
| Red snapper For Hire | Jan 1 - May 31 | 5,474 | 2,684 | 1,313,402 | 1,523,334 | 1,575 | 462 | 2,846,930 | 3,076,322 | 3,380,574 | 93% | 84% | MRIP-CHTS | CLOSED |
| Red snapper Private | see (c) below | (c) | 0 | 4,611,326 | 0% | MRIP-CHTS | ||||||||
| Goliath Grouper | Closed to Harvest | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | 0 | x | x | MRFSS | n/a |
| Nassau Grouper | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | 0 | 0 | x | x | MRFSS | n/a | |
| a. Greater amberjack and gag landings exclude Monroe County, Florida. | ||||||||||||||
| b. A closure occurs Feb 1 - Mar 31 for all shallow water grouper (red grouper, black grouper, yellowmouth grouper, scamp, and yellowfin grouper) 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. | ||||||||||||||
| c.Private red snapper recreational ACL is 4,611,326. Private recreational red snapper harvest in federal waters is under state management. | ||||||||||||||
| d. Interim measures implemented in May, 2023 updated the 2023 gag recreational season such that it opens on September 1. | ||||||||||||||
Greater Amberjack
As of April 30, 2018 the recreational Greater Amberjack fishing year was modified to be August 1 through July 31 and the fixed closed season was modified to be November 1 through April 30 and June 1 through July 31. As such, the 2018 quota is distributed across the 2017-2018 fishing year, the 2019 quota is distributed across the 2018-2019 fishing year, and the 2020 and beyond quota will be distributed for each subsequent fishing year, which now begins on August 1.
2023-2024 Preliminary Greater Amberjack Recreational Landings (lb) by Two-month Wave Fishing Year Aug 1 - July 31
| Species Complex | Fixed Closed Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | July | Total Reported | ACT | ACL | %ACT | %ACL | Datset | Quota Closure |
| Greater Amberjack(a) | Nov 1 - Apr 30 & Jun 1 - July 31 | 119,314 | 833 | 25,119 | 145,266 | 335,320 | 404,000 | 43% | 36% | MRIP-FES |
a. Greater amberjack and gag landings exclude Monroe County, Florida.
2022-2023 Preliminary Greater Amberjack Recreational Landings (lb) by Two-month Wave Fishing Year Aug 1 - July 31
| Species Complex | Fixed Closed Season | August | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | July | Total Reported | ACT | ACL | %ACT | %ACL | Datset | Quota Closure |
| Greater Amberjack(a) | Aug 1-Aug 31 & Nov 1 - July 31* | 5,949 | 316,151 | 0 | 0 | 1,051 | 70 | 0 | 323,221 | 335,320 | 404,000 | 96% | 80% | MRIP-FES | 10/31/2022 |
a. Greater amberjack and gag landings exclude Monroe County, Florida.
King Mackerel
2023-2024 Preliminary King Mackerel Recreational Landings (lb) by Two-month Wave Fishing Year July 1 - June 30
| Species Complex | Fixed Closed Season | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | %ACL | Datset | Quota Closure |
| King Mackerel | - | 509,569 | 251,281 | 760,850 | 6,793,200 | 11% | MRIP-FES |
2022-2023 Preliminary King Mackerel Recreational Landings (lb) by Two-month Wave Fishing Year July 1 - June 30
| Species Complex | Fixed Closed Season | Jul-Aug | Sep-Oct | Nov-Dec | Jan-Feb | Mar-Apr | May-Jun | Total Reported | Annual Catch Limit | %ACL | Datset | Quota Closure |
| King Mackerel | - | 250,326 | 299,546 | 100,786 | 161,051 | 326,505 | 406,694 | 1,544,908 | 6,609,600 | 23% | MRIP-FES |
Information
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