The red grouper bag limit increase is one of several fishery management changes made at the recent Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) meeting in Key Largo.
The recreational red grouper bag limit in Gulf of Mexico state waters (excluding Monroe County) will increase Dec. 30 from two to four fish. The increased bag limit is a good sign that regulators are listening to recreational catch reports in the Gulf regions. Still, red grouper are closed Feb. 1 – March 31 in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Gag grouper will remain closed in Gulf of Mexico state waters through March 31, 2012. This includes the regularly scheduled annual closure from Feb. 1 through March 31 in Gulf state waters of all shallow water groupers. Shallow water groupers in Gulf state waters include gag, red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth groupers, plus rock and red hind.
Both measures will help the state achieve consistency with federal red and gag grouper management efforts. Federal managers are expected to further limit gag grouper catches, so the FWC will revisit state gag grouper management efforts in February 2012, once federal rules are solidified.
Seasonal closures for red and gag grouper, as well as other shallow-water groupers, are also nearing on the east coast. In Atlantic state waters, including Monroe County, the season closes Jan. 1 and reopens