OUTDOORS | Anglers upset at federal government for short red snapper season
Anxious offshore anglers finally received the news they've been waiting for as the 2016 American red snapper federal fishing season was finally confirmed. The season was set following last week's Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meetings, along with a few other changes for federal managed species.
The upcoming red snapper season will be nine days, opening at 12:01 a.m. June 1 and closing at 12:01 a.m. June 10. The normal size limit of a 16-inch minimum and bag of two fish per person per day will be in effect.
Within that time frame is only one weekend, June 4 and 5.
While slightly longer than recent years, only nine days in federal waters is still not consistent with how states feel the federal fishery should be managed.
This led to negative feedback from recreational anglers, who took to social media to vent their frustration with the short season.
"There are more ARS in the Gulf now than in the history of the world! It's not about conservation, it's about corruption and money!" wrote Charles from Alabama in a Gulf Council Facebook posting.
I can't confirm there being more red snapper now than at any other point in history, but I can say that red snapper seems to be extremely abundant -- more so than most other game fish -- on my deepwater fishing spots.
Another point of contention is that recreational anglers receive only nine days, while charter boats are able to fish until July 17. This causes anglers with a similar interest to begin pointing fingers at each other instead of working together when we all want more fish to keep.
"Why can't we have the same season as the charters? Killing tourism, killing boat sales, killing those who work on boats, restaurant and hotels," writes Larry.
The FWC has allowed a longer season but the depth of red snapper means fishing beyond the state lines for the west coast of Florida. Local anglers vented their frustration on this issue, such as Brian from St. Petersburg. "There has to be a better way. Out of the last 36 red snapper federal season days, I was able to fish 2, for a total of 4 fish. I fish out of the Tampa Bay area, and there is no red snapper caught in state waters in this county, as it isn't even 40 feet deep," he says.
"My red snapper spots are 70 and 80 miles offshore. So of my 'allocated' fish of 72, I took 4. They should at the very least factor in county by county to make it fair. It's not like I can go 8 miles offshore and sailfish ya dig?"
Perhaps the best news to come out from Gulf Council meetings is the extension of gag grouper season to match the FWC's season. That season will open on June 1, the same time as red snapper, and have a new minimum size of 24 inches.
The gag grouper season will remain open until Dec. 31, unless the quota is met early. With the amount of gag grouper available to anglers, there's a good chance the season won't last the full length.
This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 10:22 PM with the headline "OUTDOORS | Anglers upset at federal government for short red snapper season ."