Offshore anglers can't keep the red-scaled eating machines off their lines. Ask for a snapper report from any bottom fisherman or partyboat captain north of Sebastian Inlet, and they'll tell you red snapper catches are as high as ever.

Yet somehow, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) recently voted 7-6 in favor of a six-month ban on red snapper in federal waters off the southern Atlantic Coast. The ban would likely take effect for the summer spawning season if approved by NMFS, possibly in June.

Council members voted at the Jekyll Island SAFMC meeting Thursday, March 5. Members recommended the interim rule partly based on science from a 2008 stock assessment, which they say, shows a lack of large, spawning red snapper.

Atlantic-coast bottom fishermen like Rick Ryals disagree. Ryals is a Jacksonville captain and Florida Sportsman contributor who targets red snapper.

"The science is bad. Being at the hearings, I truly believe the council is well-intentioned, but their science is still off. I see the red snapper numbers caught on the water," says Ryals. "They say two recent, phenomenal year classes have caused the influx of snapper in our waters, but we're catching red snapper of all sizes."

With the current economic state and increased regulations on popular fish species (like gag grouper and vermilion snapper), Ryals is not optimistic about the future.

"The economy has already cut the fishing pressure. Why ban us completely from red snapper? The vote passed 7-6; it's not a mandate. Make [the red snapper limit] one fish if it's that dire, but don't ban us. That would be disastrous."

Nothing is set in stone yet. The council's vote is only a recommendation, and must receive final approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The SAFMC could later seek to extend any ban another six months.