May 16, 2017
By Florida Sportsman Editor
It won't take long.
Plan your red snapper fishing trips in federal Gulf waters now. It won't be hard.
Three days. Federal season in Gulf waters is three days long, from June 1-3.
Really? We have three words: **** **** ****!
A number of causes contributed to the ridiculously short season, according to fishery management officials. Last year, anglers exceeded the 2016 quota in federal waters by a poundage that is taken from this year's quota. Also, a great proportion of the red snapper catch will be taken in state waters across the Gulf. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which oversees fishery management, estimates that 81 percent of the total quota of 3 million pounds for recreational anglers will be caught in Gulf state waters. This leaves less than 600,000 pounds for the private angler to catch in federal waters.
The allocation of red snapper between commercial and recreational fishers stands at 51 to 49 percent after an effort to raise the allocation in favor of recreational anglers was stopped by a lawsuit recently. Amendment 28 changed the allocation to 51.5 percent recreational and 48.5 percent commercial, but in the lawsuit, the judge vacated the amendment on the basis that it violated National Standard 4 (management measures must be fair and equitable). Thus, the red snapper allocations will revert to the previous ratio of 51 percent commercial and 49 percent recreational.
The red snapper season for charterboat anglers will be 49 days. The charter boat fleet holds 42.3 percent of the recreational quota, which further limits the private angler's opportunities but benefits marinas and towns well known for red snapper fishing.
On the day the federal season was announced, May 2, Mark Ray, chairman of Coastal Conservation Association Texas was testifying before a Congressional hearing on dismal federal management of the fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Ray told the House Subcommittee on Interior, Energy and the Environment that red snapper is a man-made fishery management disaster.
"By any measure, the red snapper fishery in the Gulf of Mexico should be held up as a shining example of proper management and good conservation. But as this hearing demonstrates, that is not the case. We aren't here today to highlight a conservation success story. Unfortunately, we are here because red snapper is known throughout the nation as a man-made fishery management disaster," Ray said. "After decades under intense federal management, this is the best that anglers can hope for - a three-day season in federal waters in 2017. I don't think anyone would declare the current situation a success. All we ask is for is a system that allows all stakeholders the best opportunity to enjoy and use those resources. I am here today to ask this you to give us that chance."
Florida's state waters red snapper season is 78 days, starting with Saturdays and Sundays in May. The season began Saturday, May 6.
