June 14, 2017 — Red snapper season in state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will reopen Friday and extend through Labor Day with certain restrictions, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Wednesday.
The 39-day extension will allow Texas anglers, along with anglers in other gulf states, on private boats to catch red snapper each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during this period. Plus the season will remain open July 3-4 and Sept. 4.
This means anglers may target snapper out to 200 miles from shore during an extra 39 days this summer. In exchange, Texas state waters, which extend out nine nautical miles, will be closed to snapper fishing Monday through Thursday during the extension.
This extension will have no immediate effect on anglers fishing from charter vessels and party boats. Their season began June 1 and runs through July 19, but only in federal waters.
Previously, the summer snapper season for private anglers in federal waters ran from June 1-3 for all gulf states. Texas has a year-round snapper season in state waters, while other gulf states have shorter state seasons.
Anglers on charter vessels and party boats throughout the gulf are not allowed to fish in state waters except during the federal season.
These restrictions are meant to curb overfishing of red snapper, according to federal fisheries managers, which have imposed ever-shortening seasons. The red snapper population is on the rebound, but not fully recovered, according to federal fisheries managers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The size and bag limit for red snapper during the extended federal season will remain the same at two fish that measure at least 16 inches.
Texas rules allow anglers in state waters to keep four fish daily that measure at least 15 inches.The Texas state season will resume after Labor Day.
Florida and Alabama fisheries managers have agreed to forego their fall state-water seasons. Louisiana and Mississippi have agreed to review their fall seasons and may decide to not to reopen their state waters in the fall, according to the Department of Commerce.