State sets red snapper season in Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Alabama wildlife officials say the red snapper season will open in late May.

Al.com (https://bit.ly/2nAiJU7) reports the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that the season will start May 26 and run through July 31. State waters extend 9 nautical miles from shore.

The federal red snapper season has not been set.

Conservation Commissioner N. Gunter Guy Jr. says he saw positive feedback from the fishing public for the extension of state waters to 9 miles.

“The public felt that having the fishery open for Memorial Day weekend as well as the prime months of June and July allowed them to spread out their effort and have great family fishing days when the weather was most favorable. We feel that setting a similar season for 2017 will give people ample opportunities to access the red snapper fishery in Alabama waters,” Guy said.

Fishermen are encouraged to report their snapper catch through the Snapper Check program. Reports can be filed at www.outdooralabama.com or by paper forms available at public boat launches.

Guy criticized the short federal seasons, saying they are “uncalled for.”

“The federal red snapper season this year has not been announced but it is anticipated to be very short,” Deputy Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship said in the Thursday release. “Alabama will use the landings from the Snapper Check program as well as other fisheries information before making any decision on a possible additional red snapper season later in the year.”