Captain Chris PhillipsRecreational harvest of gray triggerfish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico closed at 12:01 a.m., on September 15, 2021. At this time, the season remains open in Florida state waters, but my close before the end of the year.
Florida state waters in the Gulf of Mexico are from shore to nine nautical miles out and are managed by the FWC. Federal waters extend from where state waters end, out to about two hundred nautical miles and are managed by NOAA Fisheries who is overseen by the Department of Commerce.
The 2021 regulations for Florida state waters is 15″ fork length minimum size limit, one per person, with open season March 1-May 31 and August 1 -December 31.
Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in federal waters will reopen March 1, 2022, following the 2022 January and February seasonal closure.
The 2021 gray triggerfish recreational annual catch target is 274,323 pounds whole weight. Projections indicate that recreational landings of gray triggerfish have met the annual catch target.
In accordance with the regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close recreational gray triggerfish harvest when the annual catch target has been or is projected to be met.
The prohibition on possession of Gulf gray triggerfish also applies in Gulf state waters for a vessel issued a valid federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish.