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The Gulf Council met in San Antonio, Texas, from August 25-28, 2025. Three new Council members, Brenda Ballard, John ‘Johnny’ Marquez, and Dr. Micheal ‘Mike’ Allen were inducted for a 3-year term. The Council elected J.D. Dugas as Chair and Dr. Kesley Banks as Vice Chair, each for a one-year term.
Wahoo
Wahoo is currently unregulated in the federal waters of the Gulf of America. The states of Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi do not regulate wahoo. Florida manages recreational harvest of wahoo in state waters. Louisiana currently regulates wahoo in state waters and notified NOAA of its intention to extend its regulations into federal waters. States may extend their regulations into federal waters adjacent to their state for species not under federal management. NOAA Fisheries acknowledged this notice, and Louisiana will regulate those vessels that are registered with Louisiana and are fishing for wahoo in federal waters.
Greater Amberjack
The Council discussed the planned start date for the recreational fishing season for greater amberjack (September 1); however, 2024 landings data indicated that the recreational annual catch limit was exceeded. This overage was expected to trigger a reduction in the 2025 annual catch limit and annual catch target, resulting in the season being closed. To date, no clarity has been provided to the public regarding the overage and its effect on the 2025 recreational season which, in the absence of agency action, opened on September 1. NOAA indicated that a closure notice was prepared and sent to NOAA headquarters some time ago, and that closure notice remains under review.
The Council will write a letter to NOAA Fisheries requesting feedback about its concern regarding the lack of compliance with the recreational greater amberjack accountably measures, and request an explanation for the delayed rulemaking, a timeline for implementation, and a plan for ensuring compliance in the future.
Yellowtail and Mutton Snapper
Recent stock assessments for yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper showed that neither stock is overfished or experiencing overfishing and resulted in new catch advice for both species. Both stocks are co-managed by the Gulf and South Atlantic Councils, so the Gulf Council began work on Gulf Reef Fish Amendment 55 / South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Amendment 44, which considers modifying the catch limits and the allowable harvest apportioned to each Council. The Gulf Council narrowed the range of alternatives being considered to split allowable harvest between the two jurisdictions. The South Atlantic Council is expected to work on this document before it comes back to the Gulf Council for further consideration.
SOURCE: Gulf Fishery Management Council
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