Without this devolving into a “I hate the SAFMC” thread, does anybody know if there will be a short snapper season like there was last year? It was mid-September last year, so I was thinking if there was going to be one, then the announcement might come soon.
No…according. To their. Site
Thanks.
quote:
Originally posted by Gut WrenchNo…according. To their. Site
What I read is that it will not open in July as had been their plan (a whopping 6 day season, covering Fri,Sat and Sun over two weeks) and they would make a formal announcement IF it will open 30 days prior to the actual opening.
So, while it is not opening in July there is a possibility that it may open at a later date.
Squid Row II
22 Shamrock WA
Flounder Pounder II
16 Sandpiper Skiff
I read the same squid
Well afew weeks ago there was notice that said it wouldn’t…looks like they changed again,…sorry to misinform you,there is hope…
No worries. I asked b/c for some reason the SAFMC website was down that day. Keeping my fingers crossed.
SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN
(South Atlantic)
FB13-061
Rick DeVictor
727-824-5305
July 19, 2013
August 2013 Opening of Commercial and Recreational Red Snapper Season in the South Atlantic Federal Waters and Final Rule to Consider Future Seasons
This Fishery Bulletin announces the August 2013 opening of red snapper in the South Atlantic and the publishing of the final rule for Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic.
August 2013 Red Snapper Opening
NOAA Fisheries announces the opening of the 2013 commercial and recreational red snapper fishing season in South Atlantic federal waters. The commercial red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 26, 2013. The commercial season will end when the annual catch limit is projected to be met; NOAA Fisheries will announce the closure in another Fishery Bulletin. During the open commercial season, the daily trip limit is 75 pounds gutted weight and there is no minimum size limit for red snapper.
The recreational fishing season will open for one weekend made up of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 23, 2013, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 26, 2013. During the open recreational season, the bag limit is one fish per person per day and there is no minimum size limit for red snapper.
NOAA Fisheries may change the commercial and recreational season dates if severe weather conditions exist. If severe weather conditions exist, NOAA Fisheries will announce via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery Bulletin any change in the red snapper fishing seasons.
After the conclusion of the commercial fishing season, harvest and possession of red snapper are limited to the bag limit unless the recreational sector is closed. After the conclusion of the recreational fishing season, red snapper may not be harvested or possessed under the bag limit in federal waters of the South Atlantic.
Well, that was interesting timing! Guess I’ll be taking a Friday off work.
I asked the council on their FB page how many pounds and/or fish are in this year’s Red Snapper Total Allowable Catch and Acceptable Biological Catch. The numbers I have seen from SEDAR 24 indicate the council is allocating over 500,000 pounds of Red Snapper to dead discards this year alone. Please go to the SAFMC FB page and ask them to answer my question. There is no reason we could not use that half a million pounds of real or perceived dead Red Snapper discards for a 1 fish per person per day by-catch allowance for both sectors during the shallow-water grouper season.
I am hoping to attend most of the upcoming SAFMC scoping meetings and would like to meet with fishermen from different areas to discuss how we can more effectively defend our freedom to fish and eat American seafood. Please let me know if you are interested. We could meet wherever they are having the council meeting closest to you or I can come to your hometown.