Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of America and Atlantic Region; 2025-2026 Commercial Closure for Spanish Mackerel in the Atlantic Southern Zone
Published Date: 2/4/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting February 7, 2026, commercial fishers in the Atlantic Southern Zone (off South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida) must stop catching Spanish mackerel until February 28, 2026. This temporary closure helps protect the fish because the catch limit is about to be reached. If you sell Spanish mackerel commercially in this area, this means a short break from fishing and selling these tasty fish.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
21-Day Commercial Fishing Closure
If you commercially harvest or sell Spanish mackerel in federal waters off South Carolina, Georgia, or the east coast of Florida, you must stop commercial harvest and sales from February 7, 2026 through February 28, 2026 because the southern zone commercial quota of 2,667,330 lb is projected to be reached. NMFS implemented this temporary closure to protect the Atlantic Spanish mackerel resource.
Sale Ban with Cold-Storage Exception
Atlantic Spanish mackerel harvested from the southern zone during the closure (February 7–28, 2026) may not be purchased or sold. The rule does not apply to Spanish mackerel from the southern zone that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before the closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
Recreational Retention Allowed During Closure
During the commercial closure (February 7–28, 2026), a person on a vessel with a valid Federal permit may still keep Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the southern zone under the recreational bag and possession limits, as long as the recreational sector is open. These retained fish cannot be purchased or sold while the commercial sector is closed.
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