Gulf of Mexico - King Mackerel Trip Reduction

The daily vessel trip limit has been reduced to 500 pounds for commercial hook-and-line vessels fishing for Gulf group king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone. From November 1 through March 31, the southern subzone is that part of the Florida west coast subzone off Collier and Monroe Counties, FL. This is the area south and west from 25° 20.4' N. lat. (a line directly east from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, FL boundary) to 26° 19.8' N. lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/ Collier County, FL, boundary). Beginning April 1, the southern subzone is reduced to the area off Collier County, FL, between 25° 48' N. lat. and 26° 19.8' N. lat.

NOAA Fisheries reduced the trip limit after determining that 75 percent of the quota had been taken. The 500-pound daily trip limit will remain in effect until the quota is reached or through the end of the fishing year, June 30, 2007, whichever occurs first. To report violations of commercial trip limits or closures, contact NOAA Fisheries Law Enforcement Division at 727-824-5344 or 1-800/853-1964.

For more information, read the fishery bulletin.

NOAA Fisheries Service