Louisiana Commercial Greater Amberjack Season Closes August 8

Louisiana commercial fishermen are about to hit the stop sign on Greater Amberjack.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued a Declaration of Emergency closing the commercial Greater Amberjack season in Louisiana waters at 12:01 a.m. on August 8, 2026. NOAA Fisheries notified LDWF that the 2026 annual catch target has been met, and the federal Gulf season closes at the same time. The closure is set to remain in place until the regularly scheduled 2027 season opens, currently January 1, 2027.

Once the closure starts, commercial harvest, possession, purchase, barter, trade, sale, or attempted sale of Greater Amberjack is prohibited. Fish legally taken before the closure can still be sold, but dealers have to maintain the proper records.

This is quota management in real time. Some folks only want to talk about regulation when it blocks opportunity, but the same system is what keeps seasons from turning into a race to the bottom. Track the catch, close it when the target is met, and give the stock a chance to stay in the fight.

If amberjack is part of your business, do not guess on this one. Know the cutoff and keep your paperwork clean.