June 9, 2017 — Texas Parks & Wildlife officials, along with officials with other gulf states, and federal fisheries managers are negotiating the possibility of extending the private recreational snapper season.
Department officials are asking for public input during a series of meetings scheduled for Corpus Christi, Galveston and Port Isabel.
One proposal would allow weekend-only snapper fishing in federal waters starting in late June and extending through August. Another plan would allow the season to remain open July 3-4, which fall on a Monday and Tuesday.
Another option would be a 39-day weekend-only season from June 17 into September, with Fridays included.
None of these proposals would affect the recreational season for anglers who fish from charter and party boats. That season, which is underway, runs through July 19.
The trade off would change when anglers in Texas and other gulf states would be allowed to catch snapper in state waters, within nine nautical miles of shore. If adopted, the proposal calls for all state-water seasons to shut down during weekdays throughout summer and possibly into the fall.
This also might eliminate the 2018 federal snapper season. The 2107 season lasted three days, the shortest ever.