And, on january 1 the season for shallowwater grouper in atlantic state waters will close. Florida recently announced that it will increase the recreational red grouper bag limit in gulf of mexico state waters excluding monroe county on december 30 from two fish to four. The gulf of mexico gag population declined for several years beginning in 2005, possibly due to a major red tide event. When gag and black grouper season opens later this year they will have a. Amberjack, triggerfish and gag grouper season changes in gulf. Ideal and nearly summerlike conditions greeted those who ventured out to the gulf grounds, which resulted in full fish boxes, weary arms and certainly big smiles upon returning to port. Gag grouper will open for recreational harvest in most state gulf of mexico waters and all federal gulf waters june 1, and will remain open through dec.
Dec 21, 2016 gag grouper will close for recreational harvest in most gulf of mexico state waters and all gulf federal waters jan. Amberjack, triggerfish and gag grouper season changes in gulf waters start jan. The new rules apply to black and gag grouper in the gulf waters of florida. Red and black grouper season closes in gulf of mexico federal. Dec 20, 2016 gag grouper will close for recreational harvest in most gulf of mexico state waters and all gulf federal waters jan. Check out myfwc for the complete list of regulations. Due to the 2016 federal quota being exceeded, the gulf recreational gray triggerfish season has been closed in state and federal waters for all of 2017. State waters off franklin, wakulla, jefferson and taylor counties are open from april 1 through june 30 only and are not open during the june 1 through dec.
The recreational harvest season for gag grouper from all gulf waters off the coast of florida closed on feb. Offshore bottom fish found on wrecks and rocky reefs, commonly weigh up to 40 lbs. Reel time florida sportsman gulf coast grouper season 4. Gag grouper season starts july 1st for most of floridas. Reef fish florida saltwater fishing regulations 2020. The florida fish and wildlife conservation commissions fwc. Dec 30, 2016 gag grouper will close for recreational harvest in most gulf of mexico state waters and all gulf federal waters jan. Reel time florida sportsman yankeetown grouper on the troll. Gag season starts june 1 in gulf federal and most state. Gag and red grouper are the most widely distributed of the florida groupers. Jan 28, 2016 0s noaa fisheries and the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc have approved changes to the current size limit of both greater amberjack and gag grouper. Their hopes were raised in 2016 when a stock assessment by the wildlife commission found that the. Recreational anglers are encouraged to use electronic charting equipment to plot the 20fathom break by entering the established coordinates listed on.
Amberjack, triggerfish and gag grouper season changes in. Purposed 2016 gag grouper season pensacola fishing forum. The 2020 gag grouper season in the gulf of mexico for federally permitted charter boats opens june 1st till midnight december 31 2020. Many species are managed using seasonal closures to protect spawning aggregations of fish. This is an annual closure and the season will reopen june 1. Franklin, wakulla, taylor and jefferson counties are excluded from this opening because they have their own season from april 1june 30 and sept. The fwc decided to not open a goliath grouper fishing season until more research into the health of the.
Most of the grouper we catch are in offshore waters on the bottom of the ocean. Red and black grouper season closes in gulf of mexico. The spawning season occurs anywhere from january to early june depending on the area. Reel time florida sportsman gulf coast grouper and snapper season 6, episode 12.
Fwc adopts new seasons for gag grouper in gulf walton. Changes will make state gag grouper season same as federal july 1 through oct. Jan 05, 2017 gag grouper closed for recreational harvest in most gulf of mexico state waters and all gulf federal waters jan. Grouper spawn between january and may with some of the more tropical species spawning yearround. Apr 27, 2016 the council also decided to lengthen the recreational fishing season from july 1 december 2, to june 1 december 31, which applies to the 2016 fishing season. At its july meeting in orlando, the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc approved lengthening the gulf of mexico gag grouper recreational season in state waters off franklin, wakulla, jefferson and taylor counties by opening the season sept. Adjust red grouper allowable harvest gulf of mexico fishery. Sometimes well go offshore of tampa a couple of miles or so if were fishing for goliath grouper, or tarpon or sharks. State waters off franklin, wakulla, jefferson and taylor counties are open from april 1 through june 30 only and are not open during the june 1 through. Gag grouper closed for recreational harvest in most gulf of mexico state.
Gulf grouper aggregate bag limit all species of grouper in the gulf are included in a 4 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of grouper species. Annual shallowwater grouper spawning season closure january 1 through april 30, except for red grouper in federal waters off the coasts of north carolina and south carolina, which remains closed until june 1. Southwest florida anglers rang in the new year with an outstanding opening of red grouper and amberjack. The fwc approved new florida grouper regulations on february 10, 2016. Zero daily bag and possession limit for captain and crew on forhire vessels. Tampa fishing report, monday, february 1, 2016 florida fishing report tampa. This is an annual closure and the season will reopen june 1, 2017. There are several different types of grouper to fish for in the gulf of mexico, middle grounds, as well as tampa bay. Fishing closures right now with 55 species to manage in just the snapper grouper complex alone, it can be difficult to keep track of when fishing is open or closed for certain species. As with other species in the grouper family, red grouper is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with all beginning life as females, and with most females transitioning to males between the ages of 7 to 14. The minimum size limit for recreational harvest has been set at 24 inches. Reel time florida sportsman gulf coast grouper season. Shallowwater grouper also find soft plastics hard to pass up.
Fwc staff is gathering input on a limited fall 2017 season in state waters that could provide harvest opportunities to anglers. Goliath and nassau grouper are protected from harvest in florida waters. However, the fwc will consider a potential limited gray triggerfish season for fall 2017 at an upcoming meeting in an effort to provide fishing opportunities to gulf anglers. Gulf coast hogfish and grouper season 3, episode 8.
Reel time florida sportsman crystal river gag grouper on. Out there are a few reefs that i bounce around hunting for red or gag grouper. Recreational regulations florida fish and wildlife. Like much of southwest florida, naples has barrier islands which mean great fishing. Setting a 24inch total length minimum size limit for recreational harvest of gag and black grouper in gulf state waters. Anglers can harvest 2 gags within a 4 grouper aggregate gag, red, black. Jun 24, 2015 gag grouper season starts july 1st for most of florida s gulf coast. May 21, 2016 reel time florida sportsman yankeetown grouper on the troll. Offshore species, live on rocky bottom, commonly weigh up to and exceeding 100 lbs. Should the gag recreational annual catch limit be projected to be met before december 31, the gag season would close when the recreational annual catch limit is projected to be.
Pinkish in color, found offshore bottom fishing, can weigh up to 20 lbs. Dry tortugas snapper and grouper season 5, episode 10. This change has been implemented in both state and federal waters off florida. Florida state waters are from shore to nine nautical miles out and are. The gulf side gets a 40 day season and we get 2 windows with 25 mph ne winds. Nov 07, 20 shallowwater grouper also find soft plastics hard to pass up. Seasons if no seasonal information is provided, the species is open yearround. Purposed 2016 gag grouper season fwc approves gag, black grouper size limit. Goliath grouper are anything but gentle giants for florida. Its a big bait, and you can let it sink right by a groupers nose and then twitch it. If the recreational season remained open throughout 2016, landings are. When gag and black grouper season opens later this year they will have a minimum size limit of 24 inches in both federal and florida state waters.
Fwc says these further changes will make state protections consistent with gag and red grouper federal rules in. Recreational anglers are encouraged to use electronic charting equipment to plot the 20fathom break by entering the established coordinates listed on the map below into a route. Gag grouper season starts july 1st for most of floridas gulf coast. Gag grouper mycteroperca microlepis is a highly prized catch in the florida keys. Gag grouper fall season approved in gulf 4county region. Gag grouper season starts july 1st for most of floridas gulf. Modifications to gag minimum size limits, recreational season and. Dec 22, 2011 florida recently announced that it will increase the recreational red grouper bag limit in gulf of mexico state waters excluding monroe county on december 30 from two fish to four. The florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc recently announced that it is going to change how gag and red grouper are managed in gulf of mexico state waters the changes include additional protections for gag grouper while increasing the bag limit for red grouper. New grouper size limit approved for 2016 pensacola. A lengthening of the gag recreational fishing season from july 1 december 2, to june 1 december 31. Zero bag limit for captain and crew of forhire vessels applies to gag, black, and. The florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc has approved changes to the gag and black grouper minimum size limit and the gag grouper recreational season in gulf state waters.
Anglers can harvest 2 gags within a 4 grouper aggregate gag, red, black, rockhindredhind, scamp, yellowfinyellow mouth during the open season, which lasts until december 3rd. Several species of gulf grouper red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth are closed feb. Florida saltwater fishing regulations reef fish eregulations. The gulf of mexico region dominates landings for the southeast where commercial fishermen land more than 1. Florida gulf gag grouper closures continue bdoutdoors. Florida saltwater fishing regulations 2020 eregulations. Increases in florida grouper gulf limits bdoutdoors. However, they are not uncommon in shallow water grass bottom right out to 200 plus feet of water where they may be found frequenting ledges, reefs, and wrecks. Red grouper gulf of mexico fishery management council. The primary commercial gears for gulf of mexico gag grouper were vertical lines and longline.
Dec 16, 2015 grouper are caught while deep sea fishing in tampa, wreck fishing, and also bottom fishing. Gag season starts june 1 in gulf federal and most state waters fwc. The commission also approved changing the gag grouper commercial minimum size limit. Kings will be fun, the reds, trout and flounder are great in the creeks, but these restrictions on the most prevalent fish in our 1025 miles off fishery is a real bummer. Gulf grouper regulations apply to all state waters of the gulf except off monroe county where atlantic rules apply. According to the 2016 stock assessment sedar 33 2016 update, gulf of mexico gag are not overfished and are not subject to overfishing. Gulfside, black grouper is open yearround, but the related species, gag, closes january 1. For more information about grouper regulations, visit fwc grouper fishery information. Florida state waters in the gulf of mexico are from shore to nine. The commercial harvest season for gag, red and black grouper in all gulf waters off florida, except monroe county waters, closes on feb. While grouper season has closed, gulf fishermen can now keep greater amberjack. Should the gag recreational annual catch limit be projected to be met before december 31, the gag. Greater amberjack will open gray triggerfish will remain closed gag grouper will close in most gulf waters. Inline circle hooks, 10 to 30 for snapper, 40 to 80 for grouper bait.
The gulf of mexico gag population declined for several years beginning in 2005, possibly due to a major red tide event an algal bloom that releases potent neurotoxins. The breadth of the natural ecosystem near naples is immense and cant be fully described in this short post. The florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc voted feb. Gag grouper will close for recreational harvest in most gulf of mexico state waters and all gulf federal waters jan. Note that gag grouper season is different in taylor, jefferson, wakulla and franklin counties than the rest of florida gulf state waters. Florida gulf of mexico snapper and grouper bottomfishing.
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