Reduction of the 2026 Commercial Greater Amberjack Catch Limits

NOAA Announces Reduction of the 2026 Commercial Greater Amberjack Catch Limits in Federal Waters of the Gulf of America

Information provided by the Gulf Council.

Key Message

Effective January 5, 2026, the 2026 Gulf commercial greater amberjack annual catch limit is 92,816 pounds (lb) whole weight (ww) and the annual catch target is 85,746 lb ww. The harvest reduction is effective for the 2026 commercial greater amberjack fishing season, which opened January 1, 2026.

Why This Reduction Is Happening?

The latest report for 2025 Gulf greater amberjack commercial landings indicates 109,184 lb ww were harvested; 8,184 lb ww greater than the 2025 annual catch limit of 101,000 lb.

When commercial landings exceed the annual catch limit, an accountability measure set by the Gulf Fishery Management Council and approved and implemented by NOAA Fisheries requires us to reduce the commercial annual catch limit and annual catch target in the year following the overage by the amount of the overage.

As a result, the 2026 annual catch limit is reduced from 101,000 lb ww to 92,816 lb ww and the annual catch target is reduced from 93,930 lb ww to 85,746 lb ww.

This action is necessary to protect the greater amberjack population. This population is currently considered overfished (the population size is too low).