Recreational fishing for gag grouper in the South Atlantic will close early again in 2026

Federal regulators have shortened the 2026 recreational fishing season for gag grouper in the South Atlantic. This means anglers will only be able to fish for gag until August 2, 2026, to prevent overfishing.

The government sets annual catch limits for fish species to prevent overfishing. When recreational anglers catch too many fish in one year, the season for the next year gets cut short. This is a direct consequence of exceeding the limit, and it means less time on the water for recreational fishers targeting gag grouper.