I'm so pissed!! They close it the day of our trip!!

Greater Amberjack Commercial Harvest Closed to Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters

The commercial harvest of greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico is closed, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) October 28, 2010, through December 31, 2010. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined the 2010 commercial quota of 373,072 pounds of greater amberjack will be reached by this date. During the closure period, no person aboard a vessel for which a commercial Gulf of Mexico reef fish permit has been issued may fish for or retain greater amberjack in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, this closure applies in state waters for persons aboard a vessel for which a federal reef fish permit has been issued.

Closure of the commercial greater amberjack harvest in the Gulf of Mexico complies with regulations implemented under the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and is necessary to protect the Gulf reef fish resource. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined this action is necessary to prevent overfishing and to keep the commercial sector from exceeding the quota during the 2010 fishing year.

The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial reef fish permit having greater amberjack aboard must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such greater amberjack prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 28, 2010. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to sale or purchase of greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 28, 2010, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. The commercial harvest will remain closed until 12:01 a.m., January 1, 2011.

If you would like to receive these fishery bulletins by e-mail as soon as they are published, please contact us at SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the information regarding the existing regulations. Any discrepancies between this bulletin and the regulations as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register

that sucks, but it gives you an easier decision to run long or stay close to the shelf.

You're upset because the commerical AJ season is closing on the 28th?
Didn't see anything regarding recreational AJ fishing clsoing on that bulletion.
Seems to me that this will make the AJ fishing a little better from the 28th until they close the recreational sector.

So this doesn't apply to us recs?

guess I didnt read that part either.. LOL!! well then, yeah for us! we can now tear up some reels on rig donkeys hehe I likey!

Just like Red Snapper comm's and rec's. split
Could be wrong, don't think I am, but if I am I'll buy you beer for wasting your time.
Doesn't mean the NMFS won't come out with a recreational AJ closure in a few days knowing them.

More reasons to leave it to the pros.

LOL!! touche'... add another shiner bock to the list !

Just talked to Jan at Fisherman's Wharf an she said that it only affects Commercial fisheries.

Don't get so worked up John. This is a tuna trip we're going on so unless they're closing out YFT for the season, we're good to go!

Great news Bao! I was just confused about the whole "any vessle with a Federal Commercial Reef Fish Permit" part. I didn't know if the headboats had them or not. Cuz it states that if you possess one, then you can't fish for AJ's.
Thanks for checking for us(me) . I gotta tell you though bro....I love battling reef donkeys! They're just so damn strong!

And I wouldn't be suprised if tuna are next on their list... If they keep this sh*t up, I'm not kidding you.....I will ask the goverment to buy back all of my fishing tackle! If all of us get involved with the movement, then that's alot of dollars and cents! Just Baosabi's tackle alone bring the national debt to new levels!LOL

No problem bro.

How come nobody talkin about the gag closure? If I read it correctly, that one does apply to rec fisherman. Or am I reading that wrong?

I don't question anymore, I'll let the pros handle it

Yes,...... Grasshopper.

Lol!