The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service has decided to close the recreational red snapper fishery in federal Gulf waters early—nearly two months early. Announced in late March, the closure is now set for August 5, or 56 days ahead of 2008 regulations, which set the season closure at September 30. NOAA says the closure of the recreational red snapper fishery is supported under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The Fisheries Service determined the action necessary to prevent overfishing and anglers from exceeding the recreational quota.

In 2008, federal regulations lowered the recreational quota for red snapper to 2.45 million pounds in Gulf federal waters, and shortened the season to June 1 through September 30. For Gulf red snapper fishermen who venture into federal waters, your harvest season went from four months to little more than two this year. The limit is still two fish per person, with the minimum total length 16 inches. The recreational fishery in federal waters will re-open on June 1, 2009 in the Gulf.

Some are convinced that fisheries managers punished recreational fishermen because Florida and Texas refused to play ball with federal regulators. Florida Panhandle fishermen lauded the FWC for maintaining its recreational fishing season from April 15 through October 31, though limits dropped to two fish per person.

According to an NOAA analysis summary of the early closure, “The June 1 through September 30 federal recreational fishing season was based on the assumption of compatible recreational red snapper regulations in state waters. NOAA Fisheries Service’s analyses indicate the longer fishing seasons and less restrictive bag limits in state waters will result in a recreational quota overage for the 2008 fishing year.”

Texas regulators shunned federal regulations, and maintained its existing year-round fishing season and a 4-fish bag limit in state waters. Louisiana and Mississippi changed state regulations to line up with federal regulations, and Alabama is undecided.