Snapper Season Nears End
The 2011 red snapper season will close at the end of the day on Monday. NOAA Fisheries Service shortened the season to 48 days this year due to the increase in the size of the fish being landed, even though they increased the total allowable catch (TAC) for the year.
After the catch numbers are tallied, if the TAC has not been reached, they will then consider a fall season, which was given in 2010 following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has adopted a rule to keep red snapper season in state waters consistent with the federal regulations for 2011, so that also makes it possible the FWC could allow a fall state waters season.
Other seasons:
The 2011 recreational gag grouper season is currently closed. That season is scheduled to open on Sept. 16 and then close Nov. 15. This rule was put into place to temporarily end overfishing while management options for future harvest and rebuilding of gags are developed and implemented.
Amberjack season will also remain closed until Aug. 1. Projections were made that the 2011 quota would have been reached by late August if no in-season closure was instituted. An in-season amberjack closure was chosen to avoid the early seasonal closure, and allow the season to extend further into the fall than projected.
Article from PNJ.com | View Source Here
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