September 4, 2024 — For some, it was business as usual. But most all agree the red snapper season was a bit long.
This year, vessels with a federal for-hire reef permit, which is most of the Destin charter fleet, had 88 days in federal waters to catch red snapper. Their season started on June 1 and ended Aug. 28 in the Gulf of Mexico.
The 88-day season (about 3 months) was the longest in more than a decade.
“We stayed steadily busy for both boats for the whole summer,” said Capt. Tyler Brielmayer of the charter boat First Light and owner of Nothin Matters.