Commercial harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic waters will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 10, 2013. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014. The 2013 commercial catch limit is 82,900 pounds gutted 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 snowy grouper for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such snowy grouper prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), August 10, 2013. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of snowy grouper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), August 10, 2013, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure:
- Harvest or possession of snowy grouper is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits.
- Sale and purchase of snowy grouper are prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters.
- The bag limit is zero for captain and crew on charter vessels and headboats.
