http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/revised-louisiana-gulfward-boundary
http://theadvocate.com/sports/outdoors/4830380-123/wildlife-commission-to-know-more
State goes noncompliant on red snapper
BY JOE MACALUSO
Advocate Outdoors writer
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and state fisheries managers reaffirmed their intentions to open the recreational red snapper season March 22 in state waters.
With the same stroke, the commission and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirmed plans to push states boundary waters for fisheries matters out to three marine leagues, or a distance of 10.357 miles off Louisianas coastline, which would open more waters to recreational red snapper catches.
The move defies the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils 2013 plan for a 27-day recreational red snapper beginning June 1 with a daily limit of two red snapper per angler.
The LWFC/LDWF plan, approved in June, includes opening the recreational red snapper season the Saturday of the weekend before Easter (March 23) and keeping it open March 24, then Fridays-through Sundays seasons every week through the summer with four-day Fridays-through-Mondays periods on Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends.
Instead of the Gulf Councils mandated two-fish-per-day limit, the states season allows a three-fish-per-day take, but retains the Gulf Councils 16-inch minimum size for keeper red snapper.
Louisiana joins Texas as the only two of the five Gulf states in noncompliance status for this species. Texas has no season within the nine miles of its state waters.
There was no immediate response from the GMFMC, which is meeting in Mobile, Ala., to discuss. among other items, regulatory amendments to the 2013 red snapper quotas for Gulf of Mexico recreational and commercial fishing activities.
In October, LDWF assistant secretary Randy Pausina advised the commission a regional management plan Louisiana would offer to the Gulf Council. After meetings with the other four Gulf state