Florida Fish and Wildlife announces updated dates for recreational red snapper season

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced an executive order Wednesday to update the red snapper season for recreational fishing federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The 39-day season begins Friday and includes Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 16 through Sept. 4. It also includes Monday and Tuesday, July 3-4, and Monday, Sept. 4.

“Recreational red snapper fishing is highly important to Florida’s Gulf coast communities,” FWC Executive Director Nick Wiley said in a press release. “We are thankful for the leadership of Gov. Rick Scott, U. S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Florida’s Congressional delegation as well as the partnership across all five Gulf states in providing more sustainable fishing opportunities and sound fisheries management.”

According to the release, this is the longest federal red snapper season since 2013. State waters will be open the rest of this week, but beginning Monday, they will be closed Mondays through Thursdays except for July 3-4.

“This is great news, especially for anglers on the central and southwest Gulf coast, where red snapper are not commonly found in state waters,” FWC Vice Chairman Liesa Priddy said in the press release.

This story was originally published June 14, 2017 at 8:38 PM with the headline "Florida Fish and Wildlife announces updated dates for recreational red snapper season."