The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule Thursday that changes the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters. This action means that Florida's Gulf red snapper recreational harvest season will match the currently established season in Gulf federal waters.
The sport harvest season for red snapper in Gulf state waters will be open from June 1 through Sept. 30. Previously, the season in Gulf state waters occurred from April 15 through Oct. 31.
"Red snapper are considered to be overfished and undergoing overfishing in the Gulf," said FWC Commissioner Dwight Stephenson. "Shortening the fishing season in Gulf state waters will help rebuild red snapper populations and hopefully minimize the need for further fishing restrictions."
