Ready for red snapper? Five day South Atlantic season opens July 12

Ed Killer
Treasure Coast Newspapers

It's time again for the red snapper rodeo in Atlantic waters.

Beginning as early as 12:01 a.m. July 12, offshore anglers fishing the waters from Key West to the North Carolina-Virginia border can catch and keep one red snapper per person per day.

Red snapper are a popular species for offshore anglers to catch because they make great table fare. They also run large. A typical red snapper caught in waters off Florida's east coast can run between 10 and 30 pounds.

The regulations recreational anglers will follow this short season will be:

  • Dates: July 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20.
  • Size limit: No minimum or maximum.
  • Daily bag limit: One red snapper per person.

Rodeo roundup

Last year, the season's dates were in August and anglers mostly reported good catches. However, others reported a few problems with the way the harvest dates are organized. Critics said the way the dates are set, it sets up for potential conflicts between anglers on the water.

Red snapper, like this one caught aboard the Fort Pierce Lady, will be permitted to come home for dinner July 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20.

Based on the National Weather Service Marine Forecast, sea conditions should be favorable for good bottom fishing. Current has been manageable according to recent reports from offshore charter captains off the Treasure Coast and Space Coast. And the fish are certainly there, said Capt. Glenn Cameron of Floridian charters out of Sailfish Marina in Stuart.

"I'm sure we’ll all catch our limits," Cameron said, predicting how the fishing will be. "I just want to urge everybody to be polite."

Red snapper caught in 180 feet of water on Safari party boat.

Cameron said last year the short season created a rush by anglers to find productive fishing spots. Sometimes recreational anglers will use well-known charter vessels to locate spots, knowing the charter captains have spent long hours and many trips to dial in on the specific action. It creates problems.

"I wish the federal fishery managers would have separated the season for the general public and charter vessels," said Cameron who has been charter fishing along the Treasure Coast for more than 25 years. "I got run into twice last year."

Boat detailer

Cameron said one day last year he was radioed from another charter vessel captain fishing nearby who asked him is he was getting his boat waxed. That's how close another boat was fishing to Floridian.

More:Red snapper mini-season had its drawbacks

"I could actually hear the wife asking her husband why they weren't catching fish as well as we were,"" Cameron said.

Cameron said anglers should be able to find red snapper on their own by dialing in their fish finders to show the bottom 15 feet of water water column. The snapper marks are small, he said, and will look like small spikes detached from the sea floor.

"Sometimes the snapper are hanging over very small chunks of reef," Cameron said. "They are voracious feeders, though, and the big snapper will take almost anything you drop down there."

Alden Speedy, 7 months of age, and dad Capt. Brian Speedy of Stuart enjoyed Alden's first red snapper fishing trip.

He said a whole squid, dead sardines, plugged baits or baits with their fins cut off and live pilchards will all get bit by large red snapper. He said their feeding habits is what led to federal fishery managers closing down harvest for them 10 years ago. Now limited harvest is allowed since the stocks are making a comeback and managers are using flexibility in how they account for dead discards of released red snapper.

Cameron and other captains have said they won't fish on reef spots where they know red snappers live in order to reduce fishing pressure on them. 

"I think if everybody shows patience, it should be fine," Cameron said. "You got all day to catch your limit. These fish move around a lot. Don’t be afraid to use your own eyes."

Fish count

Fishery managers request anglers to use the mobile and electronic MyFishCount app to record red snapper catches for data.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council encourages anglers to use the MyFishCount cell phone app to record catch data. The data will be used to provide better management of red snapper stocks.

Anglers can record trip information, weather, photos and measurements of their catches or report if they had none. To learn how to download the app and other information about hos the information will be used, find it online at http://safmc.net/electronic-reporting-projects/myfishcount/.

Descend gently

To encourage healthy release of red snapper which will not be kept in the fish box, fishery managers are encouraging the use of descending devices. A descending device helps to transport a red snapper or a deepwater reef fish back to the bottom of the sea after it has experienced barotrauma — a condition which causes the swim bladder to swell up with gases as the fish is reeled up from deep depths.

Already regulations require anglers to properly vent the fish, allowing the gases to escape. However, the fish can sometimes be exhausted and can't swim back down. A descending device allows that to happen and results in a better chance for the fish's survival.

To learn more about how to use descending devices, go to SAFMC Best Practices web page.

Red snapper regulations

Recreational sector dates: July 12, 13, 14, 19, 20

Commercial sector dates: July 8 and will close at Jan. 1, 2020, unless the commercial annual catch limit is met or projected to be met before this date.

Size limit for both sectors: No minimum or maximum.

Recreational bag limit: One red snapper per person per day.

Commercial trip limit: 75 pounds gutted weight.

For more information: NOAA Fisheries Red Snapper.

Marine weather forecast

Friday: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Saturday: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Sunday: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.