TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Florida anglers will have a 40-day red snapper fishing season in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, up from recent years where the season fluctuated from between three and 42 days.
Additionally, the 40 days will run concurrently in both state and federal waters.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, this is important as there are many areas of Florida where snapper are rarely caught in state waters.
The gulf snapper season is scheduled to start on June 11 and close on July 21.
FWC spokesperson Amanda Nalley says the initial plan was for a 24-day season, but 40 consecutive days will give more people a chance to catch a fish.
“This is a great opportunity for people to be able to get out on the water," said Nalley. "The originally proposed season was slightly shorter than this, so the addition of these extra days is something that we are really excited to be able to offer.”
The 40 day season in the Gulf of Mexico will be in effect for both 2018 and 2019, and applies to recreational and some for-hire fishermen in state waters, but only for recreational anglers in federal waters.
