June 9, 2017 — Discussion of red snapper, and the state’s options about a new federal recreational plan, during Thursday’s Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission monthly meeting will spill over to Monday after commission chairman Chad Courville said more public input is needed for the seven-member commission to accept one of three options advanced earlier this week.
The special meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday at state Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
The options were revealed in a survey sent Monday by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Marine Fisheries Section to 15,000 holders of the state Recreational Offshore Landing Permit. LDWF secretary Jack Montoucet told the commission 5,000 holders responded to the survey in three days.
The survey’s three options included:
Option 1: Separate seasons for state and federal waters — in other words the status quo, a factor that led to the recent three-day (June 1-3) private recreational anglers red snapper season in federal waters;
Option 2: A joint 27-day Saturday-Sunday season in state and federal waters from June 17 through Labor Day with open fishing days July 3-4 and Labor Day with the possibility of an open state season after Labor Day, “… if biological data permits;”
Option 3: A joint 39-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday season in state and federal waters from June 16 through Labor Day with open fishing days July 3-4 and Labor Day, but no state season after Labor Day.