An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
Recreational fisherman with red snapper.
2022-2023, 2023, and 2023-2024 Preliminary Gulf of Mexico Commercial Landings
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).
This page was last updated: 12/4/2023
- 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:
2023 Preliminary Commercial Landings
Date Landings Available Through: 12/4/2023
| Fishing Year | Fixed Closed Months | Estimated Landings (lb)* | ACT(lb)*(a) | ACT% | ACL(lb) | ACL(%) | Current Status | |
| Cobia - East Coast Florida Zone | 01/01/23– 12/31/23 | n/a | 10,302 | n/a | n/a | 81,696 | 12.6 | OPEN |
| Gray Triggerfish | June 1- July 31 | 48,051 | 88,273 | 54.4 | 95,949 | 50.1 | OPEN | |
| Greater Amberjack | March 1 - May 31 | 136,280 | 93,930 | 145.1 | 101,000 | 134.9 | CLOSED |
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 ACL to create a buffer to reduce the risk of overharvest.
*Units: Whole Weight (ww) Gray triggerfish and Greater Amberjack. As Reported: Cobia and King Mackerel.
(a) For gray triggerfish and greater amberjack, when the a ACT is projected to be met, harvest is closed.
Shallow Water Grouper, Red Grouper, Gag Grouper, Deep Water Grouper, Red Snapper, and Tilefishes are managed under the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish IFQ Program. Current Gulf IFQ landings can be found at the IFQ Homepage. For questions contact IFQ Support.
2023-2024 Preliminary Commercial King Mackerel Landings
2023-2024 Landings through: 12/4/2023.
| Species Complex | Fishing Year | Fixed Closed Months | Est. Landings (lb)* | Quota (lb)* | Quota % | ACL(lb) | ACL % | Current Status |
| King Mackerel - Western Zone | 7/1/2023 - 6/30/2024 | 380,891 | 1,278,720 | 29.8 | 2,457,216 | 26.8 | OPEN | |
| King Mackerel - Northern zone | 10/1/2023 - 9/30/2024 | 270,578 | 574,524 | 47.1 | OPEN | |||
| King Mackerel - Southern zone (Hook and Line) | 7/1/2023 - 6/30/2024 | 7,845 | 671,328 | 1.2 | OPEN | |||
| King Mackerel - Southern zone (Gillnet) | 1/16/2024(b) - 6/30/2024 | July 1 - (b) | 671,328 | 0.0 | 634,222 | 0.0 | CLOSED |
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 ACL to create a buffer to reduce the risk of overharvest.
*Units: Whole Weight (ww) Gray triggerfish and Greater Amberjack. As Reported: Cobia and King Mackerel.
(b) Actual opening is the Tuesday after MLK Day.
2022-2023 Preliminary Commercial King Mackerel Landings
Northern Zone landings through: 9/30/2023 (adjusted 10/29/2023). Southern Zone Gillnet landings through: 4/10/2023. Other Landings through: 6/30/2023 (adjusted 7/31/2023).
| Species Complex | Fishing Year | Fixed Closed Months | Est. Landings (lb)* | Quota (lb)* | Quota % | ACL(lb) | ACL % | Current Status |
| King Mackerel - Western Zone | 7/1/2022 - 6/30/2023 | 360,285 | 1,244,160 | 29.0 | 2,457,216 | 50.0 | ||
| King Mackerel - Northern zone | 10/1/2022 - 9/30/2023 | 432,634 | 559,872 | 77.3 | ||||
| King Mackerel - Southern zone (Hook and Line) | 7/1/2022 - 6/30/2023 | 434,579 | 653,184 | 66.5 | ||||
| King Mackerel - Southern zone (Gillnet) | 1/17/2023(b) - 6/30/2023 | July 1 - (b) | 615,524 | 634,222 | 97.1 | 634,222 | 97.1 | CLOSED |
*Units: Whole Weight (ww) Gray triggerfish and Greater Amberjack. As Reported: Cobia and King Mackerel.
(b) Actual opening is the Tuesday after MLK Day.
More Information
- FISHERY BULLETINS: View or Sign up to stay up-to-date with fishery announcements
- Gulf of Mexico Branch Homepage
Dealer Reporting Information
- Dealers in the Gulf of Mexico 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 Region Permit Office.
- Dealers reporting purchases of king mackerel landed by the gillnet sector for the Gulf Southern Zone will be required to submit forms the day after landings by 10:00 a.m., local time.
- Please see the Modifications to the Current Federally Permitted Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements in the Southeast Region for additional information.
An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
Recreational fisherman with red snapper.
