NOAA Fisheries Announces the 2023 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational For-Hire Season

What/When:

The 2023 red snapper fishing season for vessels with a federal for-hire reef fish permit is 85 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 

• The season for federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2023, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 25, 2023.
• Private Anglers Note: Each Gulf state will set the private angling season for state and federal waters.  Please check with your state agency for specific dates.

How the Season Was Determined:

• The red snapper total recreational quota is 7,546,000 pounds whole weight.  The private angling component is allocated 57.7% and the for-hire component is allocated 42.3% of the quota. 
• For the for-hire component:
  • The 2023 quota for the federal for-hire component is 3,191,958 pounds whole weight.
  • The annual catch target for the federal for-hire component is 2,904,682 pounds whole weight, which is 91% of the quota.
  • The number of days for the federal for-hire component to harvest its annual catch target was projected using recent catch rates and average weights of landed fish.
• NOAA Fisheries has proposed a rule to increase Gulf red snapper catch limits that may be implemented during the federal for-hire red snapper season.  If implemented, these new catch limits would not change the federal for-hire season duration.  See discussion below in “Frequently Asked Questions” for more information.

Regulations for Fishing in Federal Waters:

• Vessels with a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish:
  • Persons aboard a federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessel cannot fish for or possess red snapper in federal or state waters when the federal for-hire season is closed.
  • If the federal permit is transferred off the vessel, persons aboard the vessel cannot, at any time during that fishing year, fish for or possess red snapper in federal waters when the federal for-hire season is closed.
  • These restrictions apply even if the vessel is not acting as a charter vessel; for example, the captain is taking his or her family fishing.
  • These restrictions apply regardless of any other permit on the vessel.
  • Relevant regulations: 50 CRF 622.39(c) and 622.41(q)(2)(iii)(B).  These regulations can be viewed at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622.
• State licensed for-hire vessels without a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish:
  • The delegation of management to the Gulf states for the red snapper private angling component does not allow for-hire vessels to fish for or possess red snapper in or from federal waters without a federal for-hire permit.
  • Please see state regulations relative to fishing for red snapper in state waters.
• Vessels with a Federal Gulf Commercial Reef Fish Permit:
  • Persons aboard the vessel can recreationally fish for red snapper when the private angling season is open if they declare they are recreationally fishing when they hail out through the vessel monitoring system or call-in system.
    • This does not apply if the vessel also has a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish (see above).
  • While on a recreational trip, each person aboard is restricted to the bag limit, no commercial quantities of any reef fish species can be on board, and the fish may not be sold.
  • Relevant regulations: 50 CFR 622.39(b), 622.28(e), 622.38(a)(2).  These regulations can be viewed at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the quotas and annual catch targets for 2023?

• The quota for red snapper in the Gulf combined for the commercial and recreational sectors is 15.4 million pounds whole weight.  The recreational sector is allocated 49% of that total, which is 7,546,000 pounds whole weight.  The federal for-hire component is allocated 42.3% of the recreational sector quota, or 3,191,958 pounds whole weight.
• The federal for-hire annual catch target is 91% of its quota, or 2,904,862 pounds whole weight (increased from 2,848,000 pounds in 2022).  This buffer helps minimize the potential for a quota overage.

*NOAA Fisheries has proposed higher red snapper catch limits that may be implemented during the open for-hire season.  If implemented, the new catch limits would not change the for-hire season duration.

How is the season length determined?

• The season is set based on the annual catch target.
• The annual catch target is higher than it was last year.
• In setting the season, daily catch rates are assumed to be the same as in recent years.
• Based on the daily catch rate from 2020-2022, the season length will increase to 85 days this year.

NOAA Fisheries has proposed new catch limits that may be implemented during the for-hire fishing season (see table below).  If NOAA Fisheries implements a rule that increases the red snapper catch limits after the for-hire season has begun, will there be any change to the for-hire season duration?

• No, NOAA Fisheries reviewed a variety of scenarios in setting the for-hire season duration, and this determination was made based upon consideration of all factors that could affect harvest rate and overall harvest.  NOAA Fisheries uses the best scientific information available in setting a for-hire season that will be of maximum benefit to the for-hire fishing community and those who utilize their services but will not result in a harvest that exceeds what the red snapper stock is able to handle.

Where can I find more information on the red snapper fishery in the Gulf?

• For more information on red snapper management, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/gulf-mexico-recreational-red-snapper-management.
• For more information on state management of red snapper, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-50a-f-state-management-program-recreational-red-snapper. 
• For more information on the red snapper quotas and annual catch targets, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/framework-action-fishery-management-plan-reef-fish-resources-gulf-mexico-modification.

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Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701).  You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers.  Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application.  The mailbox will be checked daily.  For more information, contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750