NOAA Fisheries reminds commercial fishermen that there will no longer be any weekend or holiday closures during the king mackerel gillnet fishing season.
What This Means:
In 2023, Framework Amendment 12 under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region and its final rule implemented regulations that:
Removed the weekend and holiday closure for the gillnet component of the Gulf of Mexico migratory group king mackerel, and
Retained the fishing season start date of the Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. For 2024, this fishery will open January 16th.
Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group King Mackerel Gillnet Component Management Measures:
Fishing Year: July 1 – June 30
Seasonal Closure: July 1 – Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
Minimum Size Limit: 24-inch fork length
Accountability Measures: In season closure and payback of any overage of the annual catch limit