Red Snapper Season in Alabama
Alabama’s private recreational anglers will be able to catch and keep the state’s premier reef fish, red snapper, starting Friday, May 27.
The season will be open until the state’s snapper quota is reached, but that quota has yet to be determined by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries. Last year, private recreational anglers could fish every weekend (Friday through Monday) starting the Friday before Memorial Day until the end of December. Bad weather days in June kept the fishing pressure to a minimum during the peak of the season, and anglers had fish available from the quota of almost 1 million pounds.
The 2022 private recreational season will be similar to last year’s, with snapper fishing allowed from Friday through Monday after opening day until the quota is met. Alabama Marine Resources Division Director Scott Bannon said NOAA Fisheries is pushing “calibration” to reconcile the differences in the federal catch survey versus Alabama’s Snapper Check data. Alabama’s Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship and Bannon recently went to Washington, D.C., to urge a delay in any action that would decrease Alabama’s quota.
The season dates only apply to anglers fishing from shore, private recreational vessels and state-licensed Alabama commercial party boats that do not hold federal for-hire fishing permits.
Alabama’s charter boat fleet is not governed under the state management plan and abides by federal regulations. NOAA Fisheries will announce the season for the vessels with reef fish permits at a future date.
The daily bag limit will remain at two red snappers per person, per day with a minimum size limit of 16 inches total length.
Anglers 16 years of age and older must have an Alabama saltwater fishing license (resident or non-resident, annual or trip), and any Alabama resident 65 or older or a lifetime saltwater license holder must have a current saltwater angler registration.
All anglers 16 years of age and older who possess gulf reef fish, including red snapper, must have an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement. Anglers under the age of 16 are not required to be licensed, possess an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement or have saltwater angler registration, but their catch must be included in a landing report.
One change for the 2022 season is that all vessels fishing for reef fish in federal waters are required to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to use. The use of a venting tool or descending device helps the fish deal with barotrauma or a rapid change in pressure by being reeled to the surface from deeper water. The venting tool releases the pressure in the fish’s swim bladder, allowing it to descend naturally. A descending device lowers the fish back to the reef area and releases the fish at depth.
Plan a trip to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast to catch a tasty red snapper this year.
