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Gulf Council Approves First-Ever Recreational Quota for Deep-Water Grouper
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council made history last week by establishing the first recreational quota for deep-water grouper species, allocating 10.21% of the total catch limit to recreational anglers.
The deep-water grouper complex includes warsaw grouper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, and speckled hind. Until now, recreational anglers have been fishing under an “unspecified” allocation that was essentially a small 3.5% buffer between the commercial quota and the total annual catch limit.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, which has been pushing for this change, applauds the decision and said it recognizes “the growing popularity of recreational bottom fishing in deep water.” As new technology makes it easier for recreational anglers to access these deep-water fisheries, participation in this type of fishing will only continue to grow.
Major Catch Limit Reductions
The Council also approved significant reductions in overall catch limits for the complex, cutting allowable harvest by approximately 50% to end overfishing of yellowedge grouper. A recent stock assessment showed that fewer young yellowedge grouper are surviving to adulthood and that recreational harvest has been increasing.
Under the new rules:
The Council established a recreational accountability measure that would reduce the recreational season if the 3-year average landings exceed the annual catch limit.
Venting Tools Requirement to Become Permanent
The Council also voted to permanently make the requirement that anglers have venting tools or descending devices rigged and ready when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf. This requirement, part of the DESCEND Act, is currently set to expire in January 2026.
These tools provide a way for anglers to send fish back to the depths from which they were caught, helping ensure fish can survive being released and be caught another day. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and other recreational fishing groups strongly urged the Council to make this requirement permanent.
The Council plans to bring an abbreviated framework amendment to permanently implement the requirement at their November meeting.
Deep-water grouper catches like this one are now managed under a new 10.21% recreational allocation approved by the Gulf Council
What This Means for Anglers
This historic decision recognizes that recreational deep-water fishing has been happening for over a decade and is becoming increasingly popular. While the overall catch limits are being reduced significantly, having a dedicated recreational allocation provides more certainty for anglers who target these species.
The amendment will be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval and implementation. Once implemented, these new rules will help prevent overfishing while giving recreational anglers a defined share of the deep-water grouper resource.
These changes represent a major step forward in managing deep-water grouper fisheries. For the first time, the commercial and recreational sectors have clear, separate allocations.
The post Gulf Council Approves First-Ever Recreational Quota for Deep-Water Grouper appeared first on OutdoorHub.
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Gulf Council Approves First-Ever Recreational Quota for Deep-Water Grouper
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council made history last week by establishing the first recreational quota for deep-water grouper species, allocating 10.21% of the total catch limit to recreational anglers.
The deep-water grouper complex includes warsaw grouper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, and speckled hind. Until now, recreational anglers have been fishing under an “unspecified” allocation that was essentially a small 3.5% buffer between the commercial quota and the total annual catch limit.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, which has been pushing for this change, applauds the decision and said it recognizes “the growing popularity of recreational bottom fishing in deep water.” As new technology makes it easier for recreational anglers to access these deep-water fisheries, participation in this type of fishing will only continue to grow.
Major Catch Limit Reductions
The Council also approved significant reductions in overall catch limits for the complex, cutting allowable harvest by approximately 50% to end overfishing of yellowedge grouper. A recent stock assessment showed that fewer young yellowedge grouper are surviving to adulthood and that recreational harvest has been increasing.
Under the new rules:
- Recreational Annual Catch Limit: 56,668 pounds
- Commercial Annual Catch Limit: 498,358 pounds
- Total allowable catch: 555,026 pounds
The Council established a recreational accountability measure that would reduce the recreational season if the 3-year average landings exceed the annual catch limit.
Venting Tools Requirement to Become Permanent
The Council also voted to permanently make the requirement that anglers have venting tools or descending devices rigged and ready when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf. This requirement, part of the DESCEND Act, is currently set to expire in January 2026.
These tools provide a way for anglers to send fish back to the depths from which they were caught, helping ensure fish can survive being released and be caught another day. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and other recreational fishing groups strongly urged the Council to make this requirement permanent.
The Council plans to bring an abbreviated framework amendment to permanently implement the requirement at their November meeting.
Deep-water grouper catches like this one are now managed under a new 10.21% recreational allocation approved by the Gulf Council
What This Means for Anglers
This historic decision recognizes that recreational deep-water fishing has been happening for over a decade and is becoming increasingly popular. While the overall catch limits are being reduced significantly, having a dedicated recreational allocation provides more certainty for anglers who target these species.
The amendment will be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval and implementation. Once implemented, these new rules will help prevent overfishing while giving recreational anglers a defined share of the deep-water grouper resource.
These changes represent a major step forward in managing deep-water grouper fisheries. For the first time, the commercial and recreational sectors have clear, separate allocations.
The post Gulf Council Approves First-Ever Recreational Quota for Deep-Water Grouper appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...