Recreational harvest for gulf grouper begins April 1st

The recreational harvest of grouper in all Gulf of Mexico waters off Florida, except off of Monroe County, reopens on Friday.

Gag grouper, however, will remain off-limits in federal waters of the Gulf.

The Gulf recreational shallow-water grouper fishery has been closed since February the 1st to protect gag grouper, which anglers often find and catch with the other grouper species. 

This two-month Gulf grouper spawning season closure helps to reduce overfishing of gag grouper and rebuild its populations so larger annual harvests may be possible in the future.

Beginning Friday, recreational fishermen in state waters will be able to catch gag grouper as well as black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind.

The recreational and commercial harvest of shallow-water groupers remains closed until May 1st in all Atlantic Ocean and Monroe County waters.

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