Gag Season and Bag Limit & Shallow-Water Grouper Closed Season

Photo: Troy Frady

We’ve been working on developing some different grouper management options and we’d like you to let us know which of the possible options suit you best, and why.

First, we’re reconsidering the recreational 2013 gag season and bag limit. We are not reducing the amount of gag that can be harvested, we are simply considering different season and bag options at the request of fishermen and the State of Florida. 

The current recreational gag regulations are:

• Open season from July 1 through October 31
• 2 fish bag limit

Although the current season provides the most fishing days, fishermen have asked us to consider shifting the season to days when there is greater demand for gag fishing. We’re also considering a 1-fish bag limit to increase the number of fishing days available.

Photo: FSU

Second, we’re reconsidering the February through March shallow-water grouper closed season.

The current shallow-water grouper regulations are:

• Closed season February 1 – March 31 for gag, red grouper, black grouper, yellowmouth grouper, scamp, and yellowfin grouper

Changes in grouper management and changes to fish stocks have led fishermen and scientists to question the need for the shallow-water grouper closure. We’re considering whether we should remove or modify this closed season, and we’d like your input.

If you’d like to know a bit more about the possible changes, read this guide and/or watch this short video presentation:

Your comments are important to us, and we hope you can join us at one of these public hearings:

October 15, 2012 Destin, Florida Country Inn & Suites 4415 Commons Dr. E. Destin, FL 32541 (850) 650-9191 Naples, Florida Courtyard Marriott 3250 Tamiami Trail N. Naples, FL 34103 (239) 434-8700 October 16, 2012 St.Petersburg, Florida Sirata Hotel 5300 Gulf Boulevard St. Petersburg, FL 33706 (727) 363-5100 Gulf Shores, Alabama Holiday Inn Express 160 W. Commerce Blvd. Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 948-6191

October 17, 2012 D’Iberville, Mississippi Courtyard Marriott 11471 Cinema Drive D'Iberville, MS 39540 (228) 392-1200 Galveston, Texas Hilton Galveston 5400 Seawall Blvd. Galveston, TX 77551 (409) 744-5000 October 18, 2012 Corpus Christi, Texas Harte Institute 6300 Ocean Dr., Rm 127 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-2000 Kenner, Louisiana Crowne Plaza Airport 2829 W. Williams Blvd. Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 467-5611

**All meetings begin at 6pm

If you don’t think you can make it in person please send us a comment using this electronic comment form.

Thanks for taking the time to help us make these important fishery management decisions. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.