Florida makes 40-day red snapper season

Apr 20, 2018 by Triton Staff

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Gov. Rick Scott have expanded the recreational red snapper season for both Gulf state and federal waters to 40 days. A 24-day season was originally proposed.

“Florida is an important access point throughout the nation and world for recreational red snapper fishing,” FWC Chairman Bo Rivard said in a statement. “With other Gulf states setting longer seasons than what Florida had initially proposed, it was important for us to find a fair resolution that would provide equal access to red snapper in Florida.”  

The 2018 proposed season would open June 11 and close July 21. It will include those fishing from private recreational vessels. For-hire operations that do not have a federal reef fish permit are also included but are limited to targeting reef fish in Gulf state waters only. It does not apply to commercial fishermen or for-hire operations with a valid federal reef fish permit.

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