Monthly best-season and closed-season calendar for 20 Korean seafood species, based on Korea's MOF, NIFS and Fisheries Resources Management Act (April 2026 reference). Korean waters only.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackerel | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||
| Hairtail | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||
| Yellow Croaker | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | |||||||||
| Spanish Mackerel | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Blue Crab | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||
| Snow Crab | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🟢 | ||
| Gizzard Shad | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||||
| Webfoot Octopus | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | ||||||
| Long-arm Octopus | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||||
| Olive Flounder | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Rockfish | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Octopus | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||
| Oyster | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||
| Anchovy | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||
| Gwamegi (Half-dried) | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Korean Shrimp | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Skate | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||
| Flatfish | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Stone Flounder | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Croaker | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 |
This South Korea–only reference summarises Korean MOF / NIFS guidance and the Fisheries Resources Management Act as of April 2026. Closed seasons and size limits vary by region and season; the official Korean MOF notice prevails. The calendar is non-binding reference only — Korean fishers, anglers and distributors must confirm with Korean MOF (1577-1640) or local fisheries-management offices. This tool does not promote, sell or recommend any seafood transaction and is not medical or nutritional advice.
Korea's seafood season tracks when each species — based on Korean spawning, feeding and growth — is at peak flavour and nutrition. Korea's four main fishing zones (East Sea, West Sea, South Sea, Jeju) yield 200+ species. Korea's MOF publishes closed-season notices under the Korean Fisheries Resources Management Act to protect spawning and juvenile fish. Examples (April 2026): Korean mackerel Apr 1–Jun 30, blue crab Jun 21–Aug 20, snow crab (male) Jun 1–Nov 30 (females year-round), webfoot octopus May 11–Aug 31, large octopus May 1–Aug 31. Catching or selling during a closed season is punishable under Korean Fisheries Act §97.
No — farmed Korean and imported species are exempt. Closed-season rules apply only to Korean wild catch. Mislabeling farmed as wild violates Korean food labelling law.
Yes. Korean yellow croaker is best Apr–Jun but also closed Apr 22–Aug 10 (varies by region). Use farmed or imported in such windows.
Minimum legal Korean catch length per species — e.g., olive flounder 35 cm, red snapper 24 cm, rockfish 23 cm. Applies to fishing & angling; fines apply.
Korean mackerel sheds fat during spring spawning (Apr–Jun) and stores fat for winter in autumn (Sep–Nov), peaking in flavour. The Korean closed season aligns with the spawning months.
May–Aug (no R) is the spawning season — high food-poisoning risk and lower flavour. Sep–Apr (with R) is post-spawn peak flavour in Korean waters.
Safety depends on inspection, not origin. Korean MFDS-cleared imports are safe; Korean domestic catch must show MOF origin/region labelling.
Korea's 2026 seafood calendar tracks 20 major Korean species (mackerel, hairtail, yellow croaker, Spanish mackerel, blue crab, snow crab, gizzard shad, webfoot octopus, long-arm octopus, olive flounder, rockfish, octopus, oyster, anchovy, gwamegi, Korean shrimp, skate, flatfish, stone flounder, croaker) by month, based on Korea's MOF, NIFS and Fisheries Resources Management Act enforcement-rule annexes (April 2026). Korean autumn favourites include mackerel (Sep–Nov), gizzard shad (Sep–Oct), long-arm octopus (Sep–Oct), octopus (Sep–Nov), Spanish mackerel (Oct–Dec) and blue crab (Sep–Nov); Korean spring picks include webfoot octopus (Mar–Apr), stone flounder (Mar–May), yellow croaker (Apr–Jun), blue crab (Apr–Jun) and flatfish (Apr–Jun); Korean winter brings olive flounder (Dec–Feb), snow crab (Nov–Mar), gwamegi (Nov–Jan), oyster (Oct–Feb) and skate (Nov–Feb). Korean closed seasons protect spawning and juveniles: mackerel Apr 1–Jun 30, blue crab Jun 21–Aug 20, snow crab male Jun 1–Nov 30 (females year-round), webfoot octopus May 11–Aug 31, large octopus May 1–Aug 31. Korean species size limits (olive flounder 35 cm, red snapper 24 cm, rockfish 23 cm) apply to both fishing and angling; fines apply for violations. Farmed Korean and imported species are exempt; Korean MFDS-inspected imports are safe. Confirm latest Korean notices at MOF (mof.go.kr / 1577-1640), NIFS (nifs.go.kr) or Suhyup (suhyup.co.kr). Applies to the Republic of Korea.