preloader

Recreational harvest of Florida hogfish in state and federal waters closed as of Nov. 1 off the east Florida coast and Florida Keys. [CONTRIBUTED]

Hogfish recreational harvest closed in state and federal waters off the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys starting Nov. 1, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently announced.

“This closure includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable, which is on the Gulf side of Florida and up the Atlantic coast,†the FWC said in a news release. “The recreational harvest season of Florida hogfish in state and federal waters of the Atlantic and the Florida Keys is open from May 1 through Oct. 31.â€

Recreational harvest remains open in state and federal waters north of Cape Sable in the Gulf. Anyone planning to fish for hogfish anywhere in Florida state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler, which can be done online.