RED SNAPPER SEASON OPENING THIS WEEKEND!
Friday, May 5, 2017 12:00 AM by Visit Panama City Beach
It’s an exciting time of the year for all the fishing enthusiasts out there because Red Snapper season is here! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has officially approved and set the 2017 Gulf state waters recreational red snapper season.
Red Snapper found in the Gulf of Mexico are long-lived and early-maturing reef fish. They are broadly distributed through the Gulf and can live to be up to 57 years old. With reef fish, like the red snapper, being some of the most highly prized and economically important species in the Gulf region, it’s no secret as to why recreational anglers are ready to gear up and get out on the water!
The 78-day season opens on Saturday, May 6th, allowing the public to cast their lines on the following Saturdays and Sundays. The season will be open daily from May 27th through July 9th. After that, the season will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, including Labor Day.
For more information on the Red Snapper and the FWC’s Gulf of Mexico regulations on sizing, bag limits, etc., visit http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/.