Recreational grouper season to close Feb. 1

The recreational shallow-water grouper fishery will close from Feb. 1 through March 31, according to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

The annual closure, which includes gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind, is designed to protect gag, which are often found and caught with the other grouper species. The two-month spawning season closure helps reduce overfishing of gag and rebuild its populations so that larger annual harvests may be possible in the future. 

Gag grouper, which is also part of the shallow-water grouper complex, has been closed since Nov. 16, 2011.The proposed 2012 recreational gag season is July 1 through Oct. 31.