Don't blink or you'll miss this year's federal recreational red snapper season

This year’s recreational Red Snapper season in federal waters will be very a short one.

The 2014 Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational season in federal waters is 9 days, opening on June 1^st and closing on June 10^th.

The emergency rule will not affect the commercial harvest of red snapper in the reef fish fishery.

The decision for such a short recreational season was made in response to a recent legal challenge on the management of the recreational component of the red snapper fishery.

The court ruled that the recreational fishery consistently exceeds its quota without being held accountable.

This year they want to insure that the quota is not exceeded while the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council works on permanent rules.

 The 9-day season takes also takes into consideration the longer seasons and larger bag limits adopted by Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. 

Florida will have a 52 day recreational red snapper season in state waters this year which starts on the Saturday before Memorial Day and remains open through July 14th.

The daily bag limit will remain 2 per person in state and federal waters.

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