Keys fish-fish harvest closes Thursday – Keys News

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The pork harvest ends Thursday, November 1 in Florida Keys waters.

FLORIDA KEYS – Recreational hogfish harvests in the Florida Keys end November 1st.

A six-month closure on the popular consumer fish in the Florida Keys / East Florida area is open until May 1st.

The area, established to protect a regional stock of hogfish considered overexploited, covers both federal and federal waters. The boundaries of the area extend from Cape Sable through the Keys and along the east coast of Florida to the border of the state of Georgia.

A member of the Napoleon family, the hogfish uses its pork-shaped muzzle to feed on crustaceans and bottom molluscs. Most molluscs are caught by spearfishers along the reef because the species often does not bite on hooks.

Even during the hunting season in the Keys / Atlantic area, sport fishermen can only catch one fish-hogfish a day, a minimum size of 16 inches.

Commercial pickers in the area can take 25 pounds of hogfish (full weight) a day. The commercial season in federal waters is open until the annual catch limit is reached, which should be in the near future.

Hogfish can be fished year – round in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, north of Cape Sable, with a limit of five fish per day.

For more information, see myfwc.com or safmc.net.