Fall Red Snapper Season

Today at the FL Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting in Pensacola, in response to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s delay on the decision of a Fall Red Snapper season, the FWC voted unanimously to open Red Snapper October 1-21 in State waters. While this action will not provide the much needed additional access to Federal waters at this time for the federally permitted charter boats and head boats, it will give private anglers access to this bountiful fishery this fall.

Federally permitted boats are still hopeful that they will be given the same 21 day season by the NMFS Regional Administrator, Dr. Roy Crabtree, as proposed in the June & July Gulf Council meetings. Due to information from the new data collection program, Marine Recreation Information Program, there has been a delay in that decision. Industry participants are being told the decision should be made by the end of next week.