BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi says it’s closing its red snapper season for recreational fishermen on Friday.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources said Tuesday that its reporting system indicates anglers are projected to reach their annual catch target of 138,000 pounds (62,500 kilograms) by the weekend.
The department can reopen fishing if final data show the catch is below the allowed quota. Fishermen are limited to two red snapper daily, each at least 16 inches (40 centimeters) long.
Louisiana closed its red snapper season on Sunday. Alabama and Florida closed their seasons nearly a month ago. Texas’ season is projected to close later this month.
Federal rules allowed all five Gulf of Mexico states to set their own seasons this year in state and adjacent federal waters after complaints about short federal-waters seasons.
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