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Red Snapper Regulations
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Red snapper is one of the most important recreational and commercial fisheries in Florida, and has been for over a century.  In Florida, red snapper are primarily caught by recreational anglers fishing from charter boats.  However, there is a substantial commercial fishery and fast-growing private vessel fishery as well.

Due to their popularity as table fare and as a sportfish, red snapper populations in the Gulf of Mexico have been overfished since the early 1980s.  Efforts are in place to rebuild the populations throughout the Gulf of Mexico.  To learn more about this effort, see the red snapper management article from the January 2008 Regulation Newsletter.

New Red Snapper Regulations in the Gulf of Mexico

New federal regulations for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico have been approved and will be implemented in advance of the opening recreational season.  Regulations for state and federal waters will be similar except for the length of the open fishing season.  Regulations for the new red snapper regulations took effect February 28, 2008 in federal waters and April 1, 2008 in state waters.  Also, new reef fish gear rules will take effect June 1, 2008 for state and federal waters.

Summary table of new state and federal regulations

Recreational Bag Limits for Federal and State waters

• The recreational bag and possession limit reduced from four (4) red snapper per person per day to two (2) red snapper per person per day
• Prohibit the possession of the recreational bag limit by captain and crew of for-hire vessels

Recreational Season

• State Waters (out to 9 nautical miles): April 15 - October 31
• Federal Waters (beyond 9 nautical miles): June 1 - August 4 (see NOAA Fisheries Service Bulletin)

Commercial

• The commercial minimum length limit of harvested and imported fish reduced from 15 inches to 13 inches
• The commercial daily bag and trip limit reduced from 4 fish to 2 fish per person in state waters.
• The commercial quota reduced from 4.65 million pounds to 2.55 million pounds
• Seasonal and area closures for the commercial shrimping industry to reduce effort in order in minimize juvenile red snapper bycatch

Reef Fish Gear Regulations (Effective June 1, 2008)

Commercial and Recreational

• Require the use of non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural bait (live or dead) when fishing for any of the reef fish species
• Require venting tools and dehooking devices to be onboard and used on all vessels harvesting any of the reef fish species