Bottom Bangers >> >> 2008 Red Snapper Regs

Issue: RED SNAPPER
Action: New Regulations for Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico
Information:

Issue: RED SNAPPER
Action: New Regulations for Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico
Information:
New regulations for federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico were approved by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce in December 2007. These new federal regulations should be effective in time for the 2008 recreational fishing season which would start June 1. Draft rules that would be consistent in state waters were approved by the FWC at their September 2007 meeting. A final public hearing for these rule changes will be held at the February 2008 Commission meeting in Panama City.
The new regulations for red snapper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are as follows:
Commercial
Reduce the commercial minimum length limit harvested from 15 inches to 13 inches
Recreational
Reduce the recreational bag and possession limit from four (4) red snapper per person per day to two (2) red snapper per person per day
Reduce the recreational fishing season in state waters from April 15 – October 31 (207 days) to June 1 – September 30 (122 days)
Prohibit the possession of the recreational bag limit by captain and crew of for-hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico Commercial and Recreational
Require the use of non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural bait (live or dead) when fishing for any of the reef fish species
Require venting tools to be onboard all vessels harvesting any of the reef fish species
Timeline: New federal regulations approved in December 2007, to be implemented in early 2008. The FWC will hold a final public hearing on its proposed red snapper rule amendments at the February 2008 Commission meeting in Panama City.