


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).
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
Updated 5/10/2023: All 2022 landings are final.
RS for-hire landings updated 2/24/2023.
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 | - | 161,161 | 116,168 | 238,891 | 316,416 | 155,269 | 816 | 988,721 | 796,536 | 885,040 | 124% | 112% | MRIP-FES | |
Gag(a) | Jan 1- May 31 | 552 | 0 | 251,815 | 109,312 | 207,347 | 12,393 | 581,419 | 1,708,000 | 1,903,000 | 34% | 31% | MRIP-CHTS | |
Gray triggerfish | Jan 1- Feb 28 & Jun 1 - July 31 | 165 | 71,481 | 79,307 | 73,294 | 37,587 | 45,660 | 307,494 | 274,323 | 360,951 | 112% | 85% | MRIP-CHTS | |
Greater Amberjack | SEE TABLE BELOW | |||||||||||||
Red grouper(b) | - | 177,712 | 257,038 | 885,644 | 1,399,436 | 132 | 0 | 2,719,962 | 1,840,000 | 2,020,000 | 148% | 135% | MRIP-FES | 8/30/2022 |
Red snapper For Hire | Jan 1 - May 31 | 3,439 | 7,533 | 1,517,074 | 1,307,222 | 817 | 792 | 2,836,877 | 2,848,000 | 3,130,000 | 100% | 91% | MRIP-CHTS | |
Red snapper Private | see (c) below | (c) | 0 | 3,415,200 | 4,269,000 | 0% | 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 |
Updated 5/24/2022: MRIP, Headboat, Texas, and LA Creel landings are available from January 1 through December 31, 2021.
RS for-hire landings updated 1/13/22.
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 | - | 87,003 | 39,137 | 30,861 | 24,890 | 51,473 | 3,055 | 236,419 | 710,000 | 860,000 | 33% | 27% | MRIP-CHTS | |
Gag(a) | Jan 1- May 31 | 0 | 25,016 | 326,209 | 285,845 | 69,595 | 574,158 | 1,280,823 | 1,708,000 | 1,903,000 | 75% | 67% | MRIP-CHTS | |
Gray triggerfish | Jan 1- Feb 28 & Jun 1 - July 31 | 322 | 129,165 | 57,992 | 179,877 | 8,090 | 527 | 375,973 | 274,323 | 360,951 | 137% | 104% | MRIP-CHTS | 9/15/2021 FB21-058 |
Greater Amberjack | SEE TABLE BELOW | |||||||||||||
Red grouper(b) | - | 109,321 | 548,828 | 564,927 | 466,883 | 27,513 | 143 | 1,717,615 | 920,000 | 1,000,000 | 187% | 172% | MRIP-CHTS | 9/15/2021 FB21-058 |
Red snapper For Hire | Jan 1 - May 31 | 23,765 | 13,601 | 1,360,272 | 1,199,202 | 238,369 | 18,200 | 2,853,410 | 2,848,000 | 3,130,000 | 100% | 91% | MRIP-CHTS | Reopened 10/15 - 11/6/2021 FB21-069 |
Red snapper Private | see (c) below | (c) | 0 | 3,415,200 | 4,269,000 | 0% | 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. This 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. Reef Fish Amendment 50, effective February 6, 2020, gives limited authority to each individual Gulf state to manage red snapper recreational private angling in state and federal waters off each state. Each state will set the fishing season, specify a bag limit, and specify a minimum size limit (between 14 and 18 in TL). Each state has the option to establish a maximum size limit. Florida, Alabama, and Texas may request closures of areas of federal waters adjacent to state waters. The red snapper private angling quota is allocated among the Gulf states.
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.
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 | 233,517 | 0 | 239,466 | 1,086,985 | 1,309,620 | 22% | 18% | MRIP-CHTS |
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 | 241,127 | 163,058 | 0 | 508 | 0 | 88,088 | 0 | 492,781 | 1,086,985 | 1,309,620 | 45% | 38% | MRIP-CHTS |
a. Greater amberjack and gag landings exclude Monroe County, Florida.
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 | - | 87,714 | 147,929 | 566 | 236,210 | 6,609,600 | 4% | MRIP-CHTS |
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 | - | 404,338 | 60,943 | 163,693 | 64,095 | 144,956 | 184,968 | 1,022,994 | 5,810,000 | 18% | MRIP-CHTS |