BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana recreational anglers can no longer keep greater amberjack after state officials matched a federal Gulf closure that took effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, October 14.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued an emergency declaration closing the recreational season in state waters after federal fisheries managers projected that anglers would reach the 2026-27 recreational catch target.
The closure brings Louisiana state waters into alignment with federal Gulf waters and ends a 43-day recreational season that began September 1.
For offshore anglers, the practical rule is straightforward: the recreational bag and possession limit for greater amberjack is now zero during the closure.
Why the Season Closed
NOAA Fisheries set the 2026-27 recreational annual catch limit for Gulf greater amberjack at 404,000 pounds.
The more restrictive annual catch target — the level used to trigger the in-season closure — is 335,320 pounds.
Federal fisheries managers projected that recreational landings would reach that target by October 14, requiring the federal season to close.
NOAA announced the season dates in June, meaning the October closure was projected in advance rather than being an unexpected midseason action.
The 43-day season was nevertheless substantially longer than the 26-day recreational season available in 2025.
Louisiana Matches the Federal Closure
Louisiana's regular recreational rules list a one-fish-per-person daily limit for greater amberjack with a 34-inch minimum fork length during the open season.
State waters extend offshore from Louisiana's coast, while federal waters cover the Gulf beyond the state boundary.
LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth used an emergency declaration to align Louisiana's state season with the federal closure.
The department said compatible state and federal seasons make the rules easier to enforce and support efforts to prevent continued overfishing.
For federally permitted charter vessels and headboats, federal rules also prohibit possession of greater amberjack in state waters during the federal closure.
An Overfished Gulf Species
Greater amberjack are large reef-associated fish prized by offshore anglers for their size and fighting ability.
They are also classified as overfished in the Gulf, meaning the population is below the level fisheries managers consider sustainable.
Catch limits and shortened seasons are designed to control fishing pressure while the stock rebuilds.
The closure does not mean fishing for other offshore species automatically stops. Anglers still need to follow the separate seasons, size limits, bag limits and federal or state rules applicable to each species they target.
When Amberjack Fishing Is Expected to Resume
NOAA says the recreational greater amberjack closure will remain in place until the next scheduled season begins September 1, 2027, unless regulations change before then.
That gives Louisiana anglers nearly eleven months before the currently scheduled reopening.
The 2026 season demonstrates how quota-based fisheries can differ from fixed calendar seasons. Even when a season is announced months in advance, the controlling factor is ultimately how much fish managers expect recreational anglers to harvest.
For Louisiana's offshore fishing community, October 14 therefore marks the end of amberjack harvest for the current recreational fishing year — even though boats can continue targeting other legal Gulf species.
Source Notes
NOAA Fisheries — 2026-27 Greater Amberjack recreational season and closure: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberjack-federal-waters-gulf
NOAA Fisheries — Gulf fishing regulations and seasonal closures: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/rules-regulations/fishing-regulations-and-seasonal-closures-gulf-america
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries — recreational saltwater finfish regulations: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/recreational-saltwater-finfish
Louisiana Sportsman — LDWF Oct. 13 closure announcement: https://www.louisianasportsman.com/fishing/offshore-fishing/ldwf-announces-recreational-greater-amberjack-season-to-close-on-oct-14-2026/
