Red snapper season good news and bad news

Bad news, the season is now reduced to 9 days in federal waters. The good news is I was actually expecting it to go down to 0 days. Thankfully I do know some spots in Florida waters so I can catch some during their state season.

Allegedly, the same group that filed the suit last year on behalf of commercial fishermen that helped destroy this season is already making preparations to sue again this year, before the season even happens.

I wonder if they'll split next year's 4 day season into 2 weekends or let it run Saturday through Tuesday?

All this is going to do is kill the charter and recreational fishing industry along the gulf coast.

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Originally Posted by the original pier pest

All this is going to do is kill the charter and recreational fishing industry along the gulf coast.

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I think the end goal for these groups is strictly C&R for recreational fishermen, with the option to buy some "fresh" fillets at the market afterward.

Used to be you could say there are plenty of other fish to catch... how about when snapper, grouper, amberjack, and trigger are all closed simultaneously? I hope you get excited about bb's and porgies.

These commercially backed endities want exactly that!
And they won't stop with offshore reef species.
Look for tighter regulations on pelagic fish species next ...

Its bullcrap they already ruined it for us deckhands and captians in the charter industry I don't see what's the point in having a season now....

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Originally Posted by derekb

Its bullcrap they already ruined it for us deckhands and captians in the charter industry I don't see what's the point in having a season now....

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Behind the scenes, a group called Environmental Defense Fund is orchestrating all this. They have pitted various sectors of the fishery against each other. They are assisting commercial fishers with the lawsuit, and they have been "helping" charter captains by participating with the roll out of catch shares. It is all done through shady methods and innocently named non-profits to hide the true agenda. Clearly they have almost succeeded in destroying the private recreational fishery.

The sad thing is that because of all the maneuvering, charter guys and being suckered into supporting this group that is certainly going to turn around and wipe them out in a few years.