Recreational snapper season only 10 days in federal waters

Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishermen in will get a 10-day fishing season in federal waters this year while charter captains will have 44 days to fish.

The 2015 season will mark the first time the two segments of the recreational fishery have been allowed open dates that are different from one another.

Earlier this year NOAA Fisheries approved a rule establishing two components within the recreational sector that fishes for red snapper.

Under the new rule, just over 42 percent of the recreational quota goes to the federal for-hire component and about 58 percent will go to the recreational fishing component.

The component seasons will start on June 1st and end when the individual component's annual catch target is projected to be caught.

Fishermen in Florida waters will have a 70 day recreational red snapper season this year.

Florida state waters in the Gulf are from shore to 9 nautical miles out.

The state season will start on the Saturday before Memorial Day and remain open through July 12th.

It will resume for all of Labor Day weekend and finish with Saturdays and Sundays throughout the rest of September and all of October, with the last day of harvest being Sunday, November 1st.

The daily bag limit is 2 fish per person in state and federal waters.

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