Red Snapper Season Closes Friday LAST DAY FOR RECREATIONAL FISHING FOR RED SNAPPER FRIDAY, JULY 23
Today the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the recreational fishing season for red snapper in state and federal waters will close at 12:01 AM on July 24, and will remain closed until June 1, 2011. LDWF chose to enact the same action for Louisiana waters to enhance the effectiveness and enforceability of NOAA regulations and to ensure the recreational red snapper quota is not exceeded in the 2010 fishing year.
All red snapper must be landed and on shore no later than 12:01 a.m. July 24, no possession on the water after that time is allowed.
NOAA continues to monitor the recreational catch statistics for the Gulf of Mexico, should additional fish be available for recreational harvest under the established quota, an additional season could be announced in federal and state waters.
Approximately 97 percent of all red snapper landed in Louisiana are caught in federal waters.
Secretary Barham was authorized by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at their January, 2010 meeting to change or modify opening and closing dates for the recreational red snapper season in Louisiana waters to comply with changes or modifications in season dates in federal waters. This action ensures that regulations in state waters will be consistent with regulations of NMFS for federally managed waters.
Back to Top Entered Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:06:29 pm CDT
Closures In reference to the federal season, it was set last year after the SSC committe met to go over the numbers and reccomended a certain allowable catch. Our season will continue to get shorter as long as we all sit on the internet boards and complain but do nothing else about it. As the fish get larger, it is going to take less time to reach the poundage limit.
With that said there are no provisions in the Federal law for an emergency rule to extend a fishing season so it could not be extended until it goes through the process. There is back room talk that they will be looking at a fall season for Red Snapper if the areas open back up.
As for the AJ, there is a battle coming here so if you really care about it you had better get educated and get involved. Pre oil spill it was a forgone conclusion that there would be a closing on AJ. The guys from the east side of the gulf want it closed June and July. They argue that those are the summer vacation months and the average vacationer will book trips even if it is only for king mackeral. June and July are our make or break months so we want to have any closures at some other time of the year. The problem is that the last meeting I went to in Mobile, I WAS THE ONLY ONE FROM LOUISIANA there to testify. Florida packs the house regardless of where the meeting is held and they are heard.
On the Grouper issue, they are looking at managing grouper as a COMPLEX. That means they would be split between deepwater grouper and shallow water grouper. In this case if any one of the shallow water groupers gets in trouble, population wise, they would shut down the entire complex to prevent accidental bycatch. So because the Florida area has issues with Red and Gag grouper, they are looking at shutting it down for the entire Gulf. That's all shallow water grouper being shut down.
In side bar conversations at the Mobile meeting I was told by two council members that the general impression of the Louisiana user group is that they are the most uneducated (in the regulatory process) and the least involved. So do not sit and complain about what the rest of the Gulf pushes your way unless you can find time to go push back.
We need to have many loud and educated voices in the current process but we also need to be vigilant with our federal government about changing this very broken process.
The one good thing is there is now serious discussion about splitting the Gulf into zones for management purposes.
Twomanyreds Posted Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:59:45 am CDT
Snapper Its not about limits or closures or even the fishery, its about Govt. Control. Just wait, an Oceanic Commission has been assembled by his majesty to oversee the oceans of the world. There will surely be closures of all kinds for lots of ill conceived reasons in the future, not just here in Louisiana, but nation wide. All I can say is, VOTE in November!
Capt. Smith Posted Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:24:37 pm CDT
Snapper Season The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are actually the one's responsible for recommending seasons, limits, etc for the Gulf. In my opinion they are the ones responsible for the short Red Snapper season and limit. they are also the reason the Amberjack season was closed last year and will probably continue to shorten each year in the future. They are pushing now for Gag Grouper season and limits to be shortened starting in 2011. the Idea behind the council seems to be creating shorter seasons and broadening them out so they barely overlap, creating a longer economic spread for the Gulf Coast region. WHICH MEANS LESS FISH IN MINE AND YOUR FREEZER FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE FISH. MORE MONEY SPENT, MORE CHARTER TRIPS PLANNED, ETC.(CATCH AND RELEASE) YOU CAN HAVE FUN CATCH ALL THE FISH YOU WANT GIVE US YOUR MONEY, YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE THEM HOME WITH YOU.
(www.gulfcouncil.org)The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act for managing fisheries in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico. The Council consists of 17 voting members: the Southeast Regional Administrator of NMFS (or his designee), the directors of the five Gulf state marine resource management agencies (or their designees), and 11 members who are nominated by the state governors and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. Appointments are three-year terms with a maximum of three consecutive terms. In addition, there are four nonvoting members representing the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of State, and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The Council meets five times a year at various locations around the Gulf coast. Prior to taking final action on any proposed rule change public hearings are held throughout the Gulf. Public testimony is also heard during the meeting at which final action is scheduled. Proposed rule changes are then submitted to NMFS for further review and approval before implementation.
When reviewing potential rule changes, the Council draws upon the services of knowledgeable people from other state and federal agencies, universities, and the public, who serve on panels and committees.
No common sense What kind of jerk closes snapper season on a Friday? Can`t our goverment let us have two more days to fish, or will we fill the quota in 48 hours? Whoever makes these rules must not work all week to be able to go to the coast on the weekend and get our 'whole' two snapper.
Yeah? Talk to the hand. Big picture...there is no reason for LA to have such a small limit anyway. We aren't dealing with LDWF here...This is a NMFS/NOAA issue...and they haven't listened to logic in ages.
With all the closures this year dealing with the spill how and why is it closing on the 24th??? There is no way we have even come close to meeting quota.
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