Red snapper

Season to reopen with new regulations

Anglers wanting to land some big red snapper will have more opportunities to catch their limits when recreational angler red snapper season opens in federal waters on Wednesday, June 1.

Red snapper fishing is open year-round in state waters.

Bag and length limits differ in federal and state waters.

The daily bag limit in federal waters is two fish with a minimum length of 16 inches. In state waters, the daily limit is four with a minimum length of 15 inches.

Red snapper caught in federal waters count as part of the state bag limit of four fish.

No more than four red snapper may be in your possession while fishing in state waters and no more than two red snapper in federal waters, according to a release from the Texas Parks and wildlife Department.

Anglers also need to know that a new federal regulation is now in effect as of January 2022.

“The Descend Act was signed on January 13, 2021, by President Trump and became effective on January 13, 2022,: the release said. “It added a new section 321 to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which requires commercial and recreational fishermen to possess a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone.”

The new regulations require anyone fishing for reef fish in the Gulf to possess a venting tool or a rigged descending device on the boat. These tools are for depressurizing fish before release. Research shows that depressurizing and properly releasing reef fish, including red snapper, reduces mortality, the release said.

A story about the Release ‘Em Right program in the May 12 issue of the South Jetty describes the fish release gear and how anglers can obtain the gear at no cost.

Under an agreement between the TPWD and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) signed in April 2018, TPWD can establish the opening and closing of the red snapper fishery in federal waters off the Texas coast for private recreational anglers fishing from their own vessels.

As part of the agreement between TPWD and NMFS, Texas must close the fishery when the state’s allotted poundage is reached. The red snapper season also can be closed in Texas if the Gulf-wide Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is exceeded.

TPWD asks for anglers to help monitor the TAC by using the iSnapper app available for smartphones and tablets to report red snapper landings.

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