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What/When/Where:
- Commercial harvest of greater amberjack in federal waters of the Gulf will close at 12:01 am, local time, on August 8, 2026.
- Greater amberjack commercial harvest will be closed until the 2027 fishing year begins on January 1, 2027.
Why The Greater Amberjack Commercial Closure Is Happening:
- The 2025 commercial greater amberjack landings were 8,184 pounds over the annual catch limit of 101,000 pounds for that year.
- In accordance with regulations, NOAA Fisheries was required to subtract the overage of the commercial annual catch limit from this year’s annual catch limit and annual catch target.
- On February 5, 2026, the 2026 commercial greater amberjack annual catch limit and annual catch target were reduced to 92,816 pounds to 85,746 pounds, respectively.
- Landings data show commercial harvest of greater amberjack will meet the adjusted annual catch target.
- In accordance with the regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close harvest when the commercial annual catch target has been met or is projected to be met.
- Therefore, commercial harvest of greater amberjack will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 8, 2026, and will remain closed until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2027.
- This action is necessary to protect the greater amberjack population. This population is currently considered overfished (the population size is too low).
During the Closure
- Any person aboard a vessel for which a federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued must comply with the closure regardless of where the fish are harvested.
- No greater amberjack caught in Gulf federal waters after 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 8, 2026, may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold.
- The prohibition of sale does not apply to trade in greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore and bartered, traded, or sold before 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 8, 2026, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-B/.
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Sign Up for Text Message Alerts
Our Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message and data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include immediate fishery openings and closures and any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.
Sign up for one or more of the fisheries-related alerts below by texting the following to 888777:
- Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) Recreational: Text GULFRECFISH
- Gulf of America Commercial: Text GULFCOMMFISH
- South Atlantic Recreational: Text SATLRECFISH
- South Atlantic Commercial: Text SATLCOMMFISH
- Caribbean: Text CARIBFISH
Permits Mailbox
The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at (877) 376-4877.
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Other Contacts
Media: Allison Garrett (727) 551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan (727) 385-5202
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