May 19, 2013 — Anglers and charter boat captains report there are more red snapper than they've seen in a long time, or ever. Yet, because of the stipulations in the federal Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 2013 red snapper season in Alabama will be June 1 through June 28, the shortest ever. At least that's where it stands right now.
The seasons are even more uncertain at this point for the other states. Unless a court intervenes, Louisiana will have a nine-day season in federal waters, while Florida's federal season is set at 21 days and Texas' at 12 days. Like Alabama, Mississippi's federal season is 28 days.
The reason for the discrepancies is compliance with federal regulations in state waters. Louisiana opened a weekend-only season in state waters with a bag limit of three fish. Texas doesn't close state waters to red snapper fishing, and Florida will have a 44-day season in state waters. State waters extend 9 miles in Florida and Texas and 3 miles in the other three states.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council passed a recommendation for an emergency rule at its February meeting to allow the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to adjust the federal seasons of those states not in compliance. That rule has been published in the Federal Register and has been enacted. At its April meeting, the Gulf Council voted to rescind that emergency rule on an 8-7 vote, but Dr. Roy Crabtree, the NMFS Southeast Regional Director, announced Tuesday that the request to rescind the emergency rule has been denied.
"There is a lot going on on a lot of different fronts," said Alabama Marine Resources Director Chris Blankenship, who said the rumor Alabama would go non-compliant with federal regulations is false.