Cobia Season To Close in Georgia’s Federal Waters on June 20

NOAA announced today that the Atlantic cobia season will close June 20. This applies to GA and points North stock. It does not apply to the Florida stock. NOAA explains the reason for the closing is because l ast year the recreational fishery caught 245% of their quota. The accountability measure in the FMP requires NOAA to close the fishery in the year following an overage in an attempt to reduce harvest back to the ACL or less. We’ve been further advised by the Georgia DNR/CRD that Georgia regulations will continue to allow 2 cobia per person per day and does not plan to recommend that the Board of Natural Resources change state regulations to match the federal change.