NOAA Fisheries has announced the 2025 recreational season for gag grouper in federal Gulf of Mexico waters will run just two weeks, opening at 12:01 a.m. local time Sept. 1 and closing at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 15.

The agency said the early closure is necessary because the recreational annual catch target is projected to be harvested by Sept. 14. Under federal regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close the fishery once the target is met or expected to be met to prevent overfishing.

During the closure, bag and possession limits for gag grouper will be zero in or from federal Gulf waters. Vessels with valid federal charter or headboat permits for Gulf reef fish are also prohibited from possessing gag in state waters during the federal closure.

The 2025 season reflects the ongoing struggle to rebuild the gag stock, which a recent population assessment (SEDAR 72) found to be overfished and experiencing overfishing. The stock's annual catch limit for 2025 is set at 615,000 pounds gutted weight. The recreational share, however, has been reduced because final 2024 landings of 252,367 pounds exceeded the 2024 recreational annual catch target and limit.

After adjusting for an overage of nearly 89,000 pounds, the 2025 recreational annual catch limit stands at 310,009 pounds gutted weight with a catch target of 230,009 pounds. These numbers are based partly on estimates from Florida's State Reef Fish Survey conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

NOAA Fisheries said elevated fishing effort for gag grouper has been seen since 2023, after the season was shortened and its start date shifted. To avoid further overages that could lead to even more severe restrictions in 2026, the agency worked with Florida officials to project the fall season length and chose a conservative closure date at the low end of projections.

Accountability measures require NOAA Fisheries to shut down the fishery for the rest of the year once landings are expected to hit the catch target. If landings exceed the limit and the stock is overfished, the agency must reduce the next year's limits by the overage.

For more information on recreational fishing regulations for gag grouper in the Gulf, visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast.