May 5, 2017 — To say the least, local anglers are unhappy about the three-day federal red snapper season this year.
“A federal season is a joke,” said Chris Nixon of Wewahitchka. “A three-day federal season is an insult.”
Other words used by anglers to describe the three-day season included “ridiculous,” “shenanigans,” “a travesty,” “a sick joke,” “corruption at its finest” and a handful of curse words.
For years now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has been steadily shrinking the length of the red snapper season for private anglers. Twenty years ago, the red snapper fishery was open to recreational anglers year round. Then the Sustainable Fishery Act of 1996 passed, and the season started shrinking to combat overfishing and rebuild stocks.
From 2000 to 2007, the season was open from April 21 through Oct. 21, but then NOAA changed the management plan to try to rebuild the stock faster. In 2008, it dropped to 66 days. In 2010, it was 53 days. In 2012, it was 40 days. In 2014, it was nine days.
In 2014, private anglers and for-hire boats still were operating under the same rules, but a nine-day season was devastating to for-hire boats, who depend on customers. So, in 2015 a new rule, Amendment 45, was put in place by NOAA, dividing the two groups. Private anglers received 10 days; for-hire boats had a 44-day season.
Now, private anglers have a historically short three-day season — that doesn’t fully align with a weekend — and they are crying foul. And for-hire vessels have a 49-day federal season.