On Thursday, the Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) reminded Alabamians that state waters and federal waters will be open to private and state-licensed charter vessel anglers for red snapper harvest on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
Scott Bannon is the Director of the Marine Resources Division.
“The Fourth of July is traditionally a day when families spend time together on the water,” said MRD Director. “We are thankful to be in a position to provide the opportunity for people to catch red snapper this Independence Day. A closing date for the season will be announced when the 2023 quota is anticipated to be met. Anglers are encouraged to continue reporting their harvest through Snapper Check and participate in the dockside surveys conducted by MRD staff. Accurate reporting helps us best manage Alabama’s red snapper season.”
Every fisherman is required to report any red snapper to ADCNR through the Snapper Check system. This includes shore, private vessels, and state charter angler landings. Red snapper landings updates are posted weekly during the season on ADCNR’s Red snapper page.
As of June 26, 2023, anglers have already harvested 361,314 pounds of the state’s 2023 federal quota of 591,185 pounds.
Fishermen have less than 130,000 pounds to harvest before government authorities will have to shut red snapper fishing down for the remainder of the year. Alabama anglers have harvested 130,000 pounds of red snapper in just the last 17 days – well ahead of last year’s pace, where the quota was never reached. If this is a big fishing week, red snapper harvesting could likely be shut down before the middle of July.
The Alabama private angler quota for 2023 was set by the Biden Administration’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries division. The dramatically lower red snapper quota is a result of changes concerning the difference between state and federal harvest landing systems.
The Marine Resources Division hopes that there will be an increase to Alabama’s 2024 red snapper quota due to an increase in the annual catch limit for Gulf red snapper that is currently in the rulemaking process at NOAA Fisheries.
Chris Blankenship is the Commissioner of ADCNR.
“Even with the changes to Alabama’s quota this year, we are having a great red snapper season,” said Commissioner Blankenship. “Adding the Fourth of July holiday for red snapper fishing will be good for families and friends celebrating our freedoms on the water that day in coastal Alabama.”
Anglers are reminded that the daily bag limit is two red snapper per person, per day, with a minimum size limit of 16 inches in total length. To take any fish beyond the two-fish limit or any red snapper smaller than 16 inches is strictly illegal.
To lawfully fish for red snapper – or any other saltwater fish – you must have a valid Alabama Saltwater Fishing License.
Anglers have numerous fish that they may legally harvest in state and federal waters if the red snapper limit is reached.
NOAA is holding a meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council on August 14 – 17 in Austin, Texas. The Council will be in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on April 8 – 11.
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