Florida Atlantic Coast Fishing
The NOAA has proposed a three-month bottom fishing closure along Florida’s Atlantic Coast to protect the red snapper population. This closure will affect all snapper and grouper species and limit recreational harvesting days to just 5 to 9 days per year. While aimed at preventing overfishing, concerns have been raised by the American Sportfishing Association regarding its impact on coastal communities dependent on fishing. Public comments on the proposal are open until March 17, 2025.
In the sunny state of Florida, a big announcement is making waves among fishing enthusiasts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing a three-month bottom fishing closure for all snapper and grouper species along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. This proposal aims to protect the valuable red snapper population and prevent overfishing.
The proposed closure would affect all 55 species managed by NOAA. It would prohibit recreational bottom fishing in federal waters from the Florida/Georgia state line all the way to Port Canaveral, covering an area of approximately 38,000 square miles. That’s quite a lot of space where anglers usually cast their lines!
This initiative stems from a legal settlement NOAA agreed to in August 2024 and is part of what’s known as a Secretarial Amendment. Basically, it’s an effort to not only protect our cherished red snapper but to also reduce the number of fish that are unintentionally killed during fishing—known as “dead discards.” A recent stock assessment revealed that recreational anglers discarded up to 98 percent of red snapper dead. That’s a shocking statistic!
With this closure in place, the projected recreational harvest season for Atlantic red snapper will be limited to only 5 to 9 days per year. That’s a significant increase compared to the previous years, which saw just one day in 2024 and two days in 2023. However, such limitations might leave avid anglers feeling short-changed.
This closure means that from December to February, all recreational hook-and-line fishing—including trolling—would be off the table. It’s not just red snapper at stake either; other species affected by this closure include snappers, groupers, jacks, sea basses, porgies, triggerfish, hogfish, tilefishes, and grunts. Knowing that many fish are involved, it has a lot of fishermen scratching their heads.
In the meantime, as the fishing community gears up for winter, they will have to brace for these astounding changes. Whether you’re casting your line in hope for a catch or simply enjoying Florida’s maritime beauty, keep an eye out for further developments regarding these fishing regulations. The waters along Florida’s Atlantic Coast are bound to remain a significant point of discussion.
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