August 23, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:
Recreational harvest of golden tilefish in South Atlantic federal waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on August 27, 2016. Recreational harvest in federal waters will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017. The recreational annual catch limit for golden tilefish is 3,019 fish. Reports indicate that recreational landings have exceeded the 2016 annual catch limit for the recreational sector.
During the closure:
- Recreational harvest or possession of golden tilefish in or from the federal waters of the South Atlantic is prohibited.
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels which have a valid charter/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish fishery by limiting the amount that landings exceed the recreational annual catch limit.