Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014. The 2013 commercial catch limit is 305,262 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate that commercial landings are rapidly approaching the 2013 catch limit.
The operator of a vessel with a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper that is landing gray triggerfish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), July 7, 2013. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), July 7, 2013, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure:
- Harvest or possession of gray triggerfish is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits.
- Sale and purchase of gray triggerfish is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters.
- The bag limit is zero for captain and crew on charter vessels and headboats.
This closure is necessary to protect the snapper-grouper population.
