Florida open for red snapper fishing weekends in Oct.

Florida open for red snapper fishing weekends in Oct.

Just as was done earlier this month in Alabama (Oct. 4-6), Florida has opened up a fall recreational red snapper season in the Gulf of Mexico.
The red snapper season for private recreational anglers and state for-hire operations in the Gulf of Mexico in Florida will be open on the following Saturdays and Sundays: Oct. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27.
Floida private recreational anglers may harvest red snapper in Gulf state and federal waters. However, state for-hire operations are limited to fishing for red snapper in Gulf state waters only.
Just as with Alabama’s extended season, the additional days would not be possible without the Gulf Reef Fish Survey developed specifically to provide more robust data for management of red snapper and other important reef fish. It has allowed individual states the unprecedented opportunity to manage Gulf red snapper in state and federal waters.
All anglers fishing from private recreational vessels must sign up as Gulf Reef Fish Angler to target red snapper and several other reef fish in Gulf state and federal waters, even if they are exempt from fishing license requirements. Sign up as a Gulf Reef Fish Angler at no cost at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or by visiting any location you can purchase a license.
Anglers can share catch information with FWC electronically using the Angler Action Foundation’s iAngler smartphone app. This app is available on your phone’s app store by searching for iAngler Gulf Red Snapper for private anglers or iAngler Gulf Red Snapper Charter if you are a charter operation. By using iAngler to log catches during red snapper season and beyond, anglers can provide FWC researchers with valuable insights about their trips.