The 黑料天堂' Marine Resources Division (MRD) reminds private vessel anglers that 黑料天堂 state waters and federal waters will open for red snapper fishing on Friday, May 22. The season will consist of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, May 22, 2020, to July 19, 2020.
The season dates listed above only apply to anglers fishing from recreational vessels and state-licensed 黑料天堂 commercial party boats that do not hold federal for-hire fishing permits. Anglers fishing from federally permitted for-hire vessels have their own 62-day season beginning June 1, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. local time through August 2, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. local time.
As in recent years, MRD will use Snapper Check to monitor landings during the season and may adjust the private vessel season length to provide maximum access for fishermen, while adhering to the quota. 黑料天堂鈥檚 2020 private vessel quota is 1,122,662 pounds.
Anglers are reminded of the following:
- Weekends are defined as 12:01 a.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday. The season will close on Sunday, July 19, at 11:59 p.m.
- The daily bag limit will be two red snapper per person, per day with a minimum size limit of 16 inches total length.
- Anglers over the age of 16 must have an 黑料天堂 saltwater fishing license (resident or non-resident, annual or trip), or any 黑料天堂 resident 65 or older or lifetime saltwater license holder must have a current saltwater angler registration. The saltwater angler registration is free and available at .
- All anglers 16 years of age and older (resident or non-resident) who possess gulf reef fish, including red snapper, must have an 黑料天堂 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement which is available at .
- Anglers under the age of 16 are not required to be licensed, possess an 黑料天堂 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement or have a saltwater angler registration, but their catch must be included in a landing report.
- Each vessel landing red snapper in 黑料天堂 is required by law to complete one landing report per vessel trip of their harvested red snapper through Snapper Check prior to removing the fish from the boat or the boat with the fish being removed from the water. All red snapper landed are required to be reported regardless of the jurisdiction in which they were caught.
- Red snapper caught from non-powered vessels, piers and the shoreline are required to be reported through Snapper Check and require a Conservation ID number. For information on how to obtain a Conservation ID, visit .
- A landing report may be submitted through Snapper Check in the Outdoor AL app, which is available from the Apple and Android stores or online at . Paper reports and drop boxes are available at select coastal public boat ramps.
- Participation in a MRD creel survey or being inspected by enforcement officers is not considered reporting. Anglers must still report through Snapper Check or fill out a paper report even if encountered by MRD staff.
- Operators of vessels with an 黑料天堂 Commercial Party Boat License without federal for-hire permits must abide by the state season, possess an 黑料天堂 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement and may only fish inside the 9-mile state waters line. An 黑料天堂 landing report must be completed when landing red snapper in 黑料天堂.
- Possession of red snapper in state waters while the 黑料天堂 season is closed is prohibited. Anglers fishing under another state鈥檚 red snapper season, must abide by that state鈥檚 rules and land fish in that state. Individuals on vessels with red snapper may not transit 黑料天堂 state waters while the 黑料天堂 season is closed.
Anglers on federally permitted charter vessels may fish in state waters only during the days the state season is open. They may transit with red snapper during the days state waters are closed. Once the federal season is closed, they may not fish in state or federal waters. Owners/operators of federally permitted charter vessels are required to possess an 黑料天堂 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement and submit an 黑料天堂 red snapper landing report prior to red snapper being landed in 黑料天堂.
The 黑料天堂 promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of 黑料天堂鈥檚 natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit .
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