Seasonal fishing closure at Western Dry Rocks begins April 1
The seasonal closure at Western Dry Rocks, located approximately 10 miles southwest of Key West, Florida, begins April 1, 2025 and will remain closed through July 31, 2025. This seasonal closure is designed to provide added protections for multi-species fish spawning aggregations near Western Dry Rocks and includes the prohibition of all fishing from April through July in a 1-square-mile area near Western Dry Rocks.
This area is bounded by:
24°26.217’N, 81°57.007’W
24°25.676’N, 81°57.002’W
24°25.686’N, 81°55.489’W
24°26.227’N, 81°55.493’W
Western Dry Rocks, which is about 10 miles southwest of Key West, is an important spawning location for many recreationally and commercially important species including snapper, grouper and permit.
The protection of spawning aggregations, in combination with traditional management approaches (e.g., size limits, bag limits and vessel limits), represents a comprehensive conservation strategy aimed at sustaining and enhancing fish populations. A seasonal no-fishing closure at Western Dry Rocks provides added protection for multiple species of spawning fishes while allowing fishing access for the remaining eight months of the year.
Learn more about Western Dry Rocks. |