May 30, 2018 — A commercial fishing group is the latest to express hope that a test program that gives states more control over recreational red snapper fishing will benefit the Gulf of Mexico fishery overall.
Louisiana’s season started Friday and will remain open until state figures show the federally approved quota of 743,000 pounds for sport fishermen has been met.
The action comes after the state Wildlife and Fisheries Department won federal approval last month to oversee fishing of the popular species in federal waters up to 200 miles offshore both this year and in 2019.
Under the Exempted Fishing Permit, or EFP, sport fishermen are limited to two red snapper a day at least 16 inches in length. The state will use its LA Creel program to monitor catch totals.
Sport fishing groups, in earlier comments, welcomed the action.
Last week, it drew qualified praise from the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance, which represents commercial red snapper fishermen.
Read the full story at the Daily Comet