Today the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a recommendation from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to allow a 24-day red snapper fishing season on weekends from Oct. 1 through Nov. 22.
A Gulf Commission rep told FWC commissioners during their three-day meeting at the Pensacola Beach Hilton that its conclusion on the recommendation came from “public testimony” and federal oversight.
But during the meeting, several local charter fishermen said they would prefer the fall season to be broken in half—or even completely nixed—so next year’s season could be started in late May instead of June.
Because of this year’s closure due to the Deep Horizon spill, NOAA estimated that roughly 2.3 million pounds of the 3.4 million quota was not met by recreational fishermen. It is estimated that it would take 39 days to reach the 2.3 million pound mark.
The notification of the fall season will be published by the Gulf Commission on Sept. 13.