Federally Managed Gulf of America Reef Fish
Federally Managed Gulf of America Reef Fish
Quick Facts
Number of Species
31
Species Include
Almaco Jack,
Banded Rudderfish
,
Black Grouper,
Blackfin Snapper
,
Blueline Tilefish,
Cubera Snapper
,
Gag Grouper,
Golden Tilefish,
Goldface Tilefish
,
Atlantic Goliath Grouper,
Gray Snapper
,
Gray Triggerfish,
Greater Amberjack,
Hogfish
,
Lane Snapper
,
Lesser Amberjack
,
Mutton Snapper
,
Queen Snapper
,
Red Grouper,
Red Snapper,
Scamp
,
Silk Snapper
,
Snowy Grouper
,
Speckled Hind
,
Vermilion Snapper,
Warsaw Grouper
,
Wenchman Snapper
,
Yellowedge Grouper
,
Yellowfin Grouper
,
Yellowtail Snapper
,
Yellowmouth Grouper
Region
Southeast
About
These are the species federally managed by the Gulf Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. The table includes the status of the stock and most recent assessments from the Southeast Data and Assessment Review (SEDAR) or the Gulf Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).
- Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan
- Fishing Regulations and Seasonal Closures
- Annual Catch Limit Monitoring
- Sustainable Fisheries in the Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico)
- Sign up for bulletins and text alerts
Common Name | Scientific Name | Overfishing Status | Overfished Status | Most recent assessment or |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Family Balistidae – Triggerfishes | ||||
| Balistes capriscus | N | N | SEDAR 43 2015 |
Family Carangidae – Jacks | ||||
| Seriola dumerili | N | Y | SEDAR 33 Update 2016a |
lesser amberjack | Seriola fasciata | N | Unknown | SEDAR 49 2016 |
| Seriola rivoliana | N | Unknown | SEDAR 49 2016 |
banded rudderfish | Seriola zonata | Unknown | Unknown | |
Family Labridae – Wrasses | ||||
hogfish | Lachnolaimus maximus | N | N | SEDAR 37 2013 |
Family Malacanthidae – Tilefishes | ||||
| Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps | N | N | SEDAR 22 2011a |
| Caulolatilus microps | Unknown | Unknown | |
| goldface tilefish | Caulolatilus chrysops | Unknown | Unknown | |
Family Serranidae – Groupers | ||||
| Mycteroperca microlepis | N | N | SEDAR 33 Update 2016b |
| Epinephelus morio | N | N | SEDAR 42 2015 |
scamp | Mycteroperca phenax | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Mycteroperca bonaci | N | N | SEDAR 19 2010 |
| yellowedge grouper | Hyporthodus flavolimbatus | N | N | SEDAR 22 2011b |
snowy grouper | Hyporthodus niveatus | N | Unknown | SEDAR 49 2016 |
| speckled hind | Epinephelus drummondhayi | N | Unknown | SEDAR 49 2016 |
yellowmouth grouper | Mycteroperca interstitialis | N | Unknown | SEDAR 49 2016 |
| yellowfin grouper | Mycteroperca venenosa | Unknown | Unknown | |
warsaw grouper | Hyporthodus nigritus | N | Unknown | |
| Epinephelus itajara | N | Unknown | SEDAR 47 2016As a protected species, the ACL is set at zero and benchmarks do not reflect appropriate stock dynamics |
Family Lutjanidae – Snappers | ||||
queen snapper | Etelis oculatus | N | Unknown | |
mutton snapper | Lutjanus analis | N | N | SEDAR 15A Update 2015 |
blackfin snapper | Lutjanus buccanella | N | Unknown | |
| Lutjanus campechanus | N | N | SEDAR 31 Update 2015 |
cubera snapper | Lutjanus cyanopterus | N | Unknown | |
gray snapper | Lutjanus griseus | Y | Unknown | |
lane snapper | Lutjanus synagris | Y | Unknown | SEDAR 49 2016 |
silk snapper | Lutjanus vivanus | Unknown | Unknown | |
yellowtail snapper | Ocyurus chrysurus | N | N | SEDAR 27A 2012 |
| Rhomboplites aurorubens | N | N | SEDAR 45 2016 |
| wenchman | Pristipomoides aquilonaris | N | N | SEDAR 49 2016 |
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. 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 or previously published materials.
Featured News
A red snapper with a SeaQualizer descending device on its mouth. Credit: Return 'Em Right.
Barotrauma expands gasses in a fish causing the air bladder and other organs to expand as well, making it difficult for fish to swim after release. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Florida SeaGrant.
Return 'Em Right will give anglers the tools and skills to successfully release reef fish so they live to help improve the overall health of reef fish fisheries. Credit: Return 'Em Right.
Feature Story
Return ‘Em Right: Angling for Better Catch and Release in Gulf Reef Fisheries
Southeast