According to a press release from the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and on the heals of radical changes to the grouper fisheries in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and an expected total closure of red snapper fishing, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has now closed Amberjack fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, effective October 24, 2009.
According to the release, the science involved in this decision is sketchy at best. Commercial fishing interests are apparently not affected by this latest closure. The reason being stated is that the recreational harvest has reached its quota for the year. How that harvest is measured remains a mystery - I have never been stopped or asked about my catch in over 50 years of fishing. None of my captain friends have had their catches question. So - where does the NMFS get their catch numbers? Good question...
