FWC News Release

April 11, 2008
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The recreational red snapper fishing season in Florida waters in the Gulf of Mexico reopens on April 15 and will remain open until Nov. 1. Florida waters extend nine nautical miles from shore in the Gulf.
While Florida’s Gulf red snapper season is opening as usual this year, there have been some recent, significant changes to Gulf red snapper regulations.

The red snapper bag limit for sport anglers in the Gulf has been lowered from four fish daily per person to two fish per person, and the captain and crew of for-hire vessels in the Gulf may not keep the recreational bag limit.

In addition, the recreational red snapper fishing season in Gulf federal waters has changed and will now open on June 1 and close on Aug. 5. Gulf federal waters extend well offshore beyond state waters.

The minimum harvest size for recreational red snapper in the Gulf remains unchanged at 16 inches total length.

More information about red snapper management and regulations is available online at MyFWC.com/marine