Changes to grouper and snapper seasons in Gulf, Atlantic starting Jan. 1

Jesse Smith holds a red snapper at the Ocala Catch Of The Day Fish Market in the Ocala Center shopping center on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Smith’s wife, Samar Ibrahim, owns the fish market store. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

Seasons for several species of snapper and grouper will either open or close to harvest in Gulf and Atlantic state waters starting January 1, 2022, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) press release on Dec. 20.

Red grouper will reopen to recreational harvest in the Gulf of Mexico (excluding Monroe County), while in the same state waters Blackfin, silk, queen and winchman snappers will reopen to both recreational and commercial harvest.

Gag grouper will close to recreational harvest in the Gulf as well.

Gag, black, red, yellowmouth and yellowfin grouper; as well as scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby will close to recreational and commercial harvest in Atlantic state waters (including Monroe County).

For more on these regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and select “Recreational Regulations.”