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Mackerel Quota Report for 2003/2004 Fishing Year
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Mackerel Quota Report for 2003/2004 Fishing Year
GULF GROUP KING MACKEREL
The fisheries for Gulf group king mackerel opened for the 2003/2004 fishing year on July 1, 2003. The Florida east coast subzone, however, opened on November 1, 2003, and will close on 03/31/2004, if the quota is not harvested before that date. The commercial trip limit for this zone was increased to 75 fish/day on February 1, 2004.
The king mackerel gillnet season for the southern Florida west cost subzone began at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2004. The gillnet fishery is now closed on weekends from 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning to 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. This coming weekend it also will be closed on Monday, a federal holiday (Presidents' Day, February 16, 2004). It will reopen at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, February 17, 2004.
ATLANTIC GROUP KING MACKEREL AND ATLANTIC/GULF GROUP SPANISH MACKEREL
The 2003/2004 fishing year for the Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel and the Gulf migratory group of Spanish mackerel began on April 1, 2003, and ends on March 31, 2004.
The unlimited trip limit season for the Atlantic group Spanish mackerel off the Florida east coast began at 6:00 a.m. on December 1, 2003. Daily trip limits are unlimited Monday through Friday and not to exceed 1,500 pounds on Saturday and Sunday. For these Spanish mackerel trip limits a fishing day begins 6 AM and extends for 24 hours.
Thanks again to our folks at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center for monitoring these mackerel landings. Also, thanks to those who have kindly provided feedback to improve/maintain the accuracy and utility of these reports.
For additional information contact Jason Rueter (727) 824-5350