June 13, 2013
Commercial Harvest of Jacks in South Atlantic
Closes on June 18, 2013
Commercial harvest of jacks in South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on June 18, 2013. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014. The jacks complex is comprised of the following species: almaco jack, banded rudderfish, and lesser amberjack. The 2013 commercial catch limit is 193,999 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate the 2013 catch limit for the commercial sector has been reached.
The operator of a vessel with a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper that is landing jacks for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such jacks prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), June 18, 2013. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of jacks that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), June 18, 2013, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
During the closure:
- Harvest or possession of jacks is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits.
- Sale and purchase of jacks 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 resource.
