REEF FISH: You must have a NOAA Fisheries-issued Commercial Reef Fish Vessel Permit to harvest or sell triggerfish, amberjack, wrasse, snapper, grouper, and
tilefish, regardless of whether you’re fishing in state or federal waters. Federally-permitted reef fish vessels must carry VMS onboard. Additional federal regulations
apply to the harvest of reef fish species. For reef fish fishery management, Louisiana waters extend to 9 nautical miles. Fishermen should stay informed of the state/
federal jurisdictional boundary as future congressional actions may affect current boundary demarcation as it applies to reef fish species. If a future congressional
action modifies the state/federal jurisdictional boundary, it will not impact the type of fishing gear reef fish fishermen may use.
Species
Size Limit
Harvest Limit
Season/Times Other
Greater
amberjack
36 in. min. fork length
1,500 pounds gutted weight
per trip. Annual quotas may
fluctuate from year to year; see
the most recent quota online at
gulfcouncil.org.
Closed Mar.
1—May 31
Lesser
amberjack
14 in. min. fork length and 22 in. max.
fork length
None
Year-round
Grouper
•
Black: 24 in. min. total length
• Gag: 22 in. min. total length
• Red: 18 in. min. total length
•
Scamp: 16 in. min. total length
• Yellowfin: 20 in. min. total length
•
None for misty, snowy, yellowedge,
and warsaw groupers and speckled
hind
You must have an IFQ allocation
to harvest groupers. Annual
quotas may fluctuate from year
to year; see the most recent
quotas online at
go.usa.gov/
xKJHq.
Year-round
You must call NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before landing
groupers. You must report the location of landing, name of
the IFQ dealer receiving your catch, and estimated gutted
weight of your catch per IFQ category. You may not transfer
any of these species between vessels at sea or dockside.
Call
877.376.4877 or go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for details.
Hogfish
12 in. min. total length
None
Year-round
Banded
rudderfish
14 in. min. fork length and 22 in. max.
fork length
None
Year-round
Black
seabass
None
None
Year-round
Snapper
• Lane: 8 in. min. total length
• Mutton: 16 in. min. total length
• Vermilion (beeliner): 10 in. min. total
length
• Yellowtail, cubera, and gray
(mangrove): 12 in. min. total length
• Red: 13 in. min. total length
• Mahogany, dog, schoolmaster, queen,
blackfin, and silk: none
You must have an IFQ allocation
to harvest red snapper. Annual
quotas may fluctuate from year
to year; see the most recent
quotas online at
go.usa.gov/
xKJHq.
Year-round
You must call NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before landing
red snapper. You must report the location of landing, name
of the IFQ dealer receiving your catch, and estimated
gutted weight of your catch per IFQ category. You may not
transfer red snapper between vessels at sea or dockside.
Call
877.376.4877 or go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for details.
Tilefish
(blueline,
golden,
and
goldface)
None
You must have an IFQ allocation
to harvest tilefish. Annual
quotas may fluctuate from year
to year; see the most recent
quotas online at
go.usa.gov/
xKJHq.
Year-round
You must call NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before landing
tilefish. You must report the location of landing, name
of the IFQ dealer receiving your catch, and estimated
gutted weight of your catch per IFQ category. You may not
transfer tilefish between vessels at sea or dockside. Call
877.376.4877 or go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for details.
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tilefish, regardless of whether you’re fishing in state or federal waters. Federally-permitted reef fish vessels must carry VMS onboard. Additional federal regulations
apply to the harvest of reef fish species. For reef fish fishery management, Louisiana waters extend to 9 nautical miles. Fishermen should stay informed of the state/
federal jurisdictional boundary as future congressional actions may affect current boundary demarcation as it applies to reef fish species. If a future congressional
action modifies the state/federal jurisdictional boundary, it will not impact the type of fishing gear reef fish fishermen may use.
Species
Size Limit
Harvest Limit
Season/Times Other
Greater
amberjack
36 in. min. fork length
1,500 pounds gutted weight
per trip. Annual quotas may
fluctuate from year to year; see
the most recent quota online at
gulfcouncil.org.
Closed Mar.
1—May 31
Lesser
amberjack
14 in. min. fork length and 22 in. max.
fork length
None
Year-round
Grouper
•
Black: 24 in. min. total length
• Gag: 22 in. min. total length
• Red: 18 in. min. total length
•
Scamp: 16 in. min. total length
• Yellowfin: 20 in. min. total length
•
None for misty, snowy, yellowedge,
and warsaw groupers and speckled
hind
You must have an IFQ allocation
to harvest groupers. Annual
quotas may fluctuate from year
to year; see the most recent
quotas online at
go.usa.gov/
xKJHq.
Year-round
You must call NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before landing
groupers. You must report the location of landing, name of
the IFQ dealer receiving your catch, and estimated gutted
weight of your catch per IFQ category. You may not transfer
any of these species between vessels at sea or dockside.
Call
877.376.4877 or go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for details.
Hogfish
12 in. min. total length
None
Year-round
Banded
rudderfish
14 in. min. fork length and 22 in. max.
fork length
None
Year-round
Black
seabass
None
None
Year-round
Snapper
• Lane: 8 in. min. total length
• Mutton: 16 in. min. total length
• Vermilion (beeliner): 10 in. min. total
length
• Yellowtail, cubera, and gray
(mangrove): 12 in. min. total length
• Red: 13 in. min. total length
• Mahogany, dog, schoolmaster, queen,
blackfin, and silk: none
You must have an IFQ allocation
to harvest red snapper. Annual
quotas may fluctuate from year
to year; see the most recent
quotas online at
go.usa.gov/
xKJHq.
Year-round
You must call NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before landing
red snapper. You must report the location of landing, name
of the IFQ dealer receiving your catch, and estimated
gutted weight of your catch per IFQ category. You may not
transfer red snapper between vessels at sea or dockside.
Call
877.376.4877 or go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for details.
Tilefish
(blueline,
golden,
and
goldface)
None
You must have an IFQ allocation
to harvest tilefish. Annual
quotas may fluctuate from year
to year; see the most recent
quotas online at
go.usa.gov/
xKJHq.
Year-round
You must call NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours, before landing
tilefish. You must report the location of landing, name
of the IFQ dealer receiving your catch, and estimated
gutted weight of your catch per IFQ category. You may not
transfer tilefish between vessels at sea or dockside. Call
877.376.4877 or go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for details.
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