The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the start of a seasonal closure for the recreational harvest of hogfish, effective today, for waters off the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys. This closure applies to both state and federal waters from the Atlantic coast to south of Cape Sable and extends northward to the Florida-Georgia state line.
According to the FWC, the hogfish recreational harvest season in the Atlantic and Florida Keys typically opens on May 1 and runs until October 31 each year. The seasonal closure, which takes effect annually on November 1, aims to help maintain sustainable hogfish populations by protecting the species during key breeding and growth periods.
The closure includes all state and federal waters in the Atlantic south of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida, extending up the coast to the Florida-Georgia border. However, recreational harvest remains open in state and federal waters north of Cape Sable in the Gulf of Mexico. This allows anglers in those regions to continue harvesting hogfish while conservation efforts are focused on areas with higher fishing pressure.
Hogfish are a popular target for recreational fishers in Florida due to their unique flavor and quality as a game fish, particularly in the Florida Keys and surrounding Atlantic waters. However, hogfish are also known for their vulnerability to overfishing, as they mature slowly and are primarily caught through spearfishing. By enforcing seasonal closures, the FWC aims to preserve the hogfish population for future generations and support sustainable fishing practices across Florida’s waters.