The 2014 commercial catch limit is 125,712 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate the catch limit will be met by December 11, 2014. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2015.
The operator of a vessel that is landing cobia for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such cobia prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, December 11, 2014.
The prohibition on sale and purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of cobia that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) December 11, 2014, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
This closure is necessary to protect the cobia resource.
