Closure for the Commercial Golden Tilefish Longline Component in South Atlantic Federal Waters on October 17, 2025

What/When:

The commercial longline component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time,on October 17, 2025. The closure applies to all harvest or possession of golden tilefish with longline fishing gear.

Why This Closure is Happening:

• The 2025 commercial catch limit for the golden tilefish longline component is 332,165 pounds gutted weight. NOAA Fisheries predicts this catch limit will be reached by October 17, 2025, and according to the accountability measure, harvest must close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.

During and After the Closure:

• Only golden tilefish longline endorsement holders are allowed to harvest golden tilefish with longline fishing gear. Golden tilefish harvested with longline fishing gear may not be sold or purchased after the closure. The prohibition on sale or purchase during the closure does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 17, 2025, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
• During the commercial longline closure, a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement may not commercially harvest golden tilefish using hook-and-line fishing gear. Since recreational harvest of golden tilefish closed on March 21, 2025, all harvest or possession of golden tilefish is prohibited on board a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement, without regard to where the golden tilefish was harvested (i.e., in state or federal waters) for the remainder of the 2025 fishing year. A vessel that does not have a longline endorsement, but has a commercial South Atlantic snapper-grouper unlimited permit, may commercially harvest golden tilefish with hook-and-line fishing gear until the hook-and-line catch limit is reached.
• The commercial longline component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will open at 12:01 a.m., local time,on January 15, 2026.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-I/ .

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 America Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf of America 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

Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, FL now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750

Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202