KEY MESSAGE:
The 2017-2018 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic will start on April 1, 2017, and end on March 31, 2018. Estimates indicate recreational landings for the 2017-2018 fishing year will be below the 2017-2018 recreational annual catch limit. Therefore, black sea bass will be open for the entire April 1, 2017-March 31, 2018, recreational fishing year.

WHY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS HAPPENING:
This announcement is in compliance with the final rule for Regulatory Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, which published on November 7, 2014 (79 FR 66316).
NOAA Fisheries projects that the 2017-2018 recreational annual catch limit of 1,001,177 pounds whole weight will not be met as recreational landings in the past three fishing years were below this value.

SIGN UP FOR TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS - FIND OUT ABOUT IMMEDIATE OPENINGS AND CLOSURES
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.

Text alerts you may receive include:
• Immediate fishery openings and closures
• Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly

Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
• Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
– Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
– Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
– Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
– Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
• Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
– Text CARIBFISH to 888777

Other contacts:
Media: Kim Amendola, 727-551-5707
Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750