NOAA fisheries to set separate closure dates for red snapper in federal waters off Gulf Coast states

NOAA fisheries is implementing an emergency rule that will allow it to set separate closure dates for the recreational red snapper season in federal waters off individual Gulf of Mexico states.

The closure dates will depend on whether state red snapper regulations are consistent with federal regulations.

The federal recreational season for Gulf of Mexico red snapper begins June 1st each year with a 2-fish bag limit.

If all states were to implement the same rules, the 2013 recreational season would be 28 days, but a number of states including Florida have indicated they will implement different red snapper rules for their state waters.

The emergency rule, which was published in the federal register on March the 25^th, allows NOAA Fisheries to calculate the recreational red snapper fishing season separately off each state to account for any inconsistency of regulations in state waters.

Based on the expected regulations, the preliminary season length in federal waters off Florida will be 21 days.

For Louisiana it’s only 9 days and for Texas its only 12 days.

Mississippi and Alabama will see 28 day seasons in federal waters.

The exact dates will be announced in the near future.

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