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Commercial Closure for Blueline Tilefish in South Atlantic Federal Waters on August 24, 2026
What/When:
- The commercial harvest of blueline tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 24, 2026.
Why This Closure Is Happening:
- The current commercial catch limit is 117,148 pounds whole weight.
- The commercial in-season accountability measure for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic requires NOAA Fisheries to close the commercial harvest of blueline tilefish for the rest of the fishing year when commercial landings reach or are projected to reach the commercial annual catch limit.
During And After The Closure:
- All sale or purchase of blueline tilefish during a commercial closure is prohibited. The recreational harvest for blueline tilefish in federal waters will close on September 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., local time, and the bag and possession limit is zero.
- The bag and possession limits of zero apply in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper, regardless of where such fish are harvested or possessed, i.e., in state or federal waters.
- The 2027 commercial fishing season for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic will open on January 1, 2027, with a commercial catch limit of 117,148 pounds whole weight, unless the Final Rule for Abbreviated Framework 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region is implemented in 2026.
- If this happens and the commercial fishery can be reopened in 2026 due to an increase in catch limits, NOAA Fisheries will publish another Fishery Bulletin.
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-I/.
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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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