BATON ROUGE, La.--Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the season for the recreational harvest of greater amberjack will not re-open in Louisiana waters on May 1, 2019, as previously scheduled. The recreational fixed closed season from June 1 through July 31 will also remain in effect. Following the fixed closed season, the recreational season will re-open on August 1, 2019, and remain open until October 31, 2018, or until the quota is met or projected to be met.

The recreational greater amberjack season is normally scheduled to run from August 1 through July 31 of the following year with closed seasons from November 1 through April 30 and June 1 through July 31.

NOAA Fisheries has informed the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that the annual catch target of 902,185 pounds was met by October 31, 2018, and the season will not reopen in May 2019. This closure is necessary to prevent overfishing of the greater amberjack stock.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet was authorized by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in previously promulgated rules (LAC 76.VII.335.G.5) to change or modify the opening and closing dates for any recreational reef fish season in Louisiana waters when notified of a modification to a season by NOAA Fisheries.

For more information, contact Jason Adriance at (504) 284-2032 or jadriance @wlf.la.gov.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.