Red Snapper research during shortened season
The season for Red Snapper in Atlantic federal waters started today and will end July 12 at 12:01 a.m. Researchers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are seeking out help from anglers’ to record information about the Atlantic red snapper fishery. Anglers are limited to one fish per person, per day, with no minimum size limit in federal waters.
In 2020, the recreational season was open for 4 days, and recreational landings exceeded the recreational annual catch limit.
NOAA Fisheries estimates the season length based upon catch rates from the previous years, this year is shorter by one day to reduce the likelihood that the recreational landings would exceed the recreational annual catch limit in 2021.
FWC research personnel will be out along Florida’s east coast during each day of the season asking recreational fishers about their red snapper trips, the number of red snapper harvested, and for permission to measure and weigh harvested fish and collect biological samples.
New this year, biologists will also ask permission to take a small piece of fin tissue from harvested fish to help estimate the total number of red snapper in the Atlantic population.
Anglers are also encouraged to submit their catch information online at MyFishCount.com, even if information has already been submitted to FWC staff in person.
