North Carolina State Record Cubera Snapper

North Carolina state record cubera snapper - 58 pounds (courtesy NC DMF)

A new North Carolina state record cubera snapper has been certified by the state's Division of Marine Fisheries.

Randal Harmon of Morehead City caught the cubera snapper on Sept. 28 while fishing off Atlantic Beach on the Capt. Stacy headboat.

The fish weighed 58 pounds, topping the previous state record by 11 pounds, 8 ounces.

The previous state record was caught in the Atlantic Ocean in 1993. The world record cubera snapper weighed 124 pounds, 12 ounces and was caught off of Louisiana in 2007.

The fish measured 39 inches total length (tip of the nose to the tip of the tail) and had a 34-inch girth.

Harmon caught the record-setting snapper using cut mackerel on 80-pound test line.

Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Quotas (Recreational)

On April 10, 2015, NOAA Fisheries approved Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources (Amendment 40) of the Gulf of Mexico submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). A final rule published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2015 (80 FR 22422), with an effective date of May 22, 2015.

Amendment 40 was approved by the Council to help stabilize the federal for-hire component of the recreational sector fishing for red snapper, provide the basis for increased flexibility in future management of recreational fishing for red snapper, and reduce the chance for recreational quota overruns, which could jeopardize the rebuilding of the red snapper stock.

Amendment 40 establishes two components within the recreational sector that fishes for red snapper.

Amendment 40 components:

A federal for-hire component, which is comprised of all for-hire operators with a valid or renewable federal reef fish charter vessel/headboat permit.

A private angling component, which is comprised of private recreational anglers and other for-hire operators who do not have a federal reef fish charter vessel/headboat permit.

The rule also establishes component sub-quotas and annual catch targets using Amendment 40's allocation of 42.3 percent to the federal for-hire component and 57.7 percent to the private angling component.

The component seasons will start on June 1 and end when the individual component's annual catch target is projected to be caught. A 20 percent buffer is applied to the recreational quota to obtain the annual catch target, which is then allocated between components. Season lengths are anticipated to be announced in late April or early May in a final rule setting the 2015-2017 commercial and recreational quotas.

Amendment 40 management measures will end after three years unless the Council takes additional action. The Council is presently evaluating other measures to manage the recreational sector including regional management.

Electronic copies of the amendment and final rule may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Web site: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

2014 Recreational Red Snapper Fishing Seasons (South Atlantic Federal Waters)

After considerable anticipation from anglers, NOAA Fisheries recently announced the opening of the 2014 recreational red snapper fishing seasons in South Atlantic federal waters.

The recreational 2014 catch limit is set at 22,576 fish.

The 2014 South Atlantic red snapper recreational fishing season will consist of the following days:

July 11, 12, 13 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

July 18, 19, 20 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

July 25, 25 (Friday, Saturday)

During the open recreational season, the bag limit is one fish per person per day and there is no minimum size limit for red snapper.

NOAA Fisheries may change commercial and recreational season dates if tropical storm or hurricane conditions exist, or are projected to exist, in the South Atlantic. If severe weather conditions exist, NOAA Fisheries will announce via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery Bulletin any change in the red snapper fishing seasons.

Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register.

For additional information regarding the South Atlantic red snapper annual catch limits and recreational length projection report, visit the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office website at www.safmc.net.

source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

New Gulf Red Snapper Regulations Considered

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Houston, Texas, February 3 - 6, 2014, to discuss a number of fishery issues, including several related to the management of red snapper.

Actions taken by the Council include:

Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper

The Council continued its discussions regarding Reef Fish Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper. Further work on Amendment 39 - Regional Management is postponed until progress is made on how to allocate the quota among the regions.

Regional management considers dividing the federal recreational red snapper quota among states or regions potentially giving them authority to set their own management measures. States/regions would have more flexibility in choosing season and bag limits, but this would not necessarily result in more fishing days.

Under a regional management system red snapper would remain a federally managed species subject to federal conservation goals, and the Council would continue to oversee management of the stock.

Red Snapper - Slot Limits
In the interest of extending the recreational red snapper fishing season the Council directed staff to develop a framework action for red snapper slot limits in the recreational fishery. The document will consider a range of size limits, as well as options for keeping one trophy fish.

Red Snapper Allocation - Amendment 28
The Council discussed Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation and chose Alternative 5 as its preferred alternative. Alternative 5 maintains the commercial/recreational red snapper allocations at 51%/49% if the red snapper quota is less than or equal to 9.12 million pounds (mp). It the quota is greater than 9.12 mp, then 75% of the amount in excess of 9.12 mp would go to the recreational sector and 25% would go to the commercial sector. Based on the current total quota of 11 mp, this would result in 5.121 mp for the commercial sector and 5.879 mp for the recreational sector.

The Council also added a new alternative, Alternative 7, that would allocate 75% of red snapper quota amounts in excess of 10 mp to the recreational sector and 25% to the commercial sector.

Public hearings on Amendment 28 will be held around the Gulf coast in March. A separate webinar will also be scheduled for those who are unable to participate in person. Dates and locations will be announced. The Council is planning a one-day meeting in May, during which they will hold a final public hearing in the northern Gulf and take final action on Amendment 28.

The purpose of Amendment 28 is to allocate red snapper resources between the commercial and recreational sectors to increase the net benefits from red snapper fishing and improve the stability of the red snapper component of the reef fish fishery, particularly for the recreational sector.

Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation

Staff presented a draft options paper for Amendment 40 - Sector Separation, which included an option for voluntary participation. Sector separation refers to the dividing of the recreational red snapper quota into distinct private angling and federal for-hire components. The private angling component would include private anglers and state permitted for-hire operators. The federal for-hire component would include federally permitted for-hire operators. Staff will continue working on the amendment.

For-Hire Electronic Reporting

The Council directed staff to begin developing a framework action to establish electronic reporting methods for charter for-hire vessels with federal reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics permits.

Amendment 30B Permit Conditions

The Council voted to rescind the provision adopted in 2009 under Reef Fish Amendment 30B that requires federally permitted reef fish charter vessels and headboats to comply with the more restrictive federal regulations when fishing in state waters. The framework action will be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for review.

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper FMP Amendment 27

NOAA Fisheries is publishing a final rule to implement Amendment 27 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region on December 27, 2013.

Amendment 27 includes the following actions:

Extends the South Atlantic Council's management responsibility for Nassau grouper to include the Gulf of Mexico.

Increases the number of allowable crew members from three to four on dual-permitted vessels (vessels that have both a federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit for Snapper-Grouper and a South Atlantic Unlimited or 225-Pound Snapper-Grouper Permit).

Allow captains and crew of for-hire vessels with federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Snapper-Grouper Permits to retain bag limit quantities of all snapper-grouper species.

Remove blue runner from the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.

An Amendment 27 FAQ is available at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2013/am27/index.html.

Amendment 27 and the final rule may be obtained from: The NOAA Fisheries Web site:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2013/am27/index.html.

source: NOAA Fisheries

Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) is seeking comments on Amendment 40 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

According to GMFMC,Amendment 40 considers alternatives to define private and for-hire components of the recreational red snapper fishery and allocate red snapper resources between these components.

A guide to the amendment can be found at: gulfcouncil.org/docs/SectorSeparationGuide.pdf.

GMFMC will accept comments throughout the amendment process and can be submitted via online comment form:

http://www.gulfcouncil.org/council_meetings/comment_forms/RF%20Amendment%2040%20-%20Sector%20Separation.php.

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

2014 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Season (Recreational)

NOAA Fisheries recently released details of the 2014 Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational season.

The 2014 Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational season will be 40 days, opening at 12:01 a.m., June 1, 2014, and closing at 12:01 a.m., July 11, 2014.

For information about how the season was projected, please see the NOAA Fisheries 2014 Red Snapper Recreational Season Length Report.

NOAA Fisheries reminds all federally permitted for-hire vessels that after the federal water closure, they may not harvest and retain recreationally caught red snapper if state waters remain open.

A list of frequently asked questions about the red snapper recreational season can be found at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Web site.

source: NOAA Fisheries

Gulf of Mexico Fall Red Snapper Season (Recreational)

In July the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to increase the 2013 red snapper recreational quota to 5.390 million pounds (mp).

The Council also agreed that, if NMFS determines that unused recreational quota is available, a supplemental season will open October 1 and run continuously until the quota is met.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the supplemental season will be approximately 21 days long. The estimate will be reevaluated when the June recreational landings data become available in mid-August.

The Framework Action will be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce and, if approved, will be implemented in time for the fall season.

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

Texas - Louisiana Red Snapper Joint Lawsuit

On April 22, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and its commission joined together to file a lawsuit in United States District Court in Brownsville, Texas.

The lawsuit challenges an emergency regulation enacted by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that would allow the NMFS regional administrator to significantly reduce the recreational red snapper season in federal waters off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission chairman T. Dan Friedkin commented on the action, saying: “We have heard loudly and clearly from our anglers and other stakeholders that they expect nothing less from us.”

“The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, on behalf of recreational fishermen and those whose livelihood depends on reasonable access to red snapper stocks, has taken this action to send the message to NMFS that a nine-day season for Louisiana landings is totally unreasonable and unacceptable,” said Ronald “Ronny” Graham, LWFC chairman.

On Feb. 8, over the strong objections of state agency representatives from Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) voted to implement an emergency rule that could shorten the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters off the Texas coast to as few as 12 days and to nine days off the Louisiana coast, down from a projected 22-day season.

In 2012, the snapper season in federal waters throughout the Gulf was 46 days. In contrast, because snapper stocks are doing well and growing in the Gulf, snapper fishing is allowed 365 days a year in Texas state waters and 88 days in Louisiana state waters.

Just weeks later, on April 18, the Gulf council voted 8 to 7 to overturn the emergency rule, in effect reversing the Feb. 8 vote. Texas and Louisiana representatives said the lawsuit was an added measure of enforceability should NMFS not act on the latest council motion prior to the start of red snapper season June 1. The federal court has been asked to expedite its consideration of the case so that a decision is reached before June 1.

As published in the federal register on March 25, the emergency rule would empower the NMFS southeast regional administrator to reduce the red snapper season in federal waters off Texas and Louisiana. In Texas, federal waters begin nine nautical miles from the state’s coast and extend 200 nautical miles. The rule affects Florida as well, since all three states have refused to shorten snapper seasons in state waters to mirror seasons set by NMFS for federal waters.

The joint lawsuit alleges that there is no emergency to justify such a rule. The two states also allege that the emergency rule violates the federal policy of cooperative federalism by improperly attempting to regulate the red snapper season in state waters.

Although TPWD and LDWF are continuing to work with NMFS and the other Gulf states on a solution, the short deadline for challenging the emergency regulation required filing the lawsuit to preserve the states’ ability to address the issue in a timely and effective manner.

TPWD has received close to 2,400 online public comments and more than 230 emails about the emergency rule that could shorten the snapper season, with 97 percent of those commenting opposed to the rule. TPWD also received letters from various Texas-based organizations opposed to the measure, including the Saltwater Fisheries Enhancement Association, Recreational Fishing Alliance, and the Charter Fisherman’s Association.

The Texas and Louisiana agencies maintain that while a proposed shortened season will have no apparent conservation benefit, it would definitely have an economic impact. TPWD estimates that the originally projected 27-day season would generate at least $28 million from recreational fishermen in Texas, while a 12-day season would cut that figure by at least $16 million in lost retail sales in Texas.

For Louisiana, reducing a 45-day season to a nine-day season could result in an estimated decline in economic value of approximately $8 million to recreational anglers in that state.

source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

2013 Gulf of Mexico Recreational Red Snapper Season

A new temporary emergency rule gives NOAA Fisheries the authority to set separate closure dates for the recreational red snapper season in federal waters off individual Gulf of Mexico states.

Closure dates will depend on whether state regulations are consistent with federal regulations for the recreational red snapper season length or bag limit.

The rule was requested by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council at their February meeting to provide a fairer and more equitable distribution of recreational red snapper fishing opportunities among anglers in all the Gulf of Mexico states.

The federal recreational season for Gulf of Mexico red snapper begins June 1 each year with a 2-fish bag limit. The length of the season is determined by the amount of the quota, the average weight of fish landed, and the estimated catch rates over time.

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for ensuring the entire recreational harvest, including harvest in state waters, does not exceed the recreational quota.

Therefore, if states establish a longer season or a larger bag limit for state waters than the federal regulations allow in federal waters, the federal season must be adjusted to account for the additional harvest expected in state waters.

If all states were to implement consistent regulations, the 2013 recreational season would be 28 days, assuming the recreational quota is increased to 4.145 million pounds through separate rule-making. However, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida have indicated they will implement inconsistent red snapper regulations for their state waters.

The new emergency rule is intended to address the issue; otherwise the 2013 federal season would be reduced to 22 days to compensate for that additional expected harvest.

The emergency rule allows NOAA Fisheries to calculate the recreational red snapper fishing season separately in the EEZ off each state to account for any inconsistency of regulations in state waters.

Based on the expected regulations for Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, the preliminary season lengths would be as follows: Texas, 12 days; Louisiana, 9 days; Mississippi and Alabama, 28 days; and Florida, 21 days.

NOAA Fisheries is expected to announce the closure dates through a Southeast Fishery Bulletin.

According to NOAA, all other federal regulations for recreational red snapper are still in effect.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and other information concerning the emergency rule is available here:
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/reef_fish/2013/rs_er/index.html

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

March SAFMC Meeting Update

A number of federal fishery management measures were approved for submission to the Secretary of Commerce during a recent South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) meeting.

The following measures were submitted for final approval and implementation by NOAA Fisheries:

 * Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18 - Adjustments for Vermillion Snapper and Red Porgy.

 * Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 27 - Captain and crew bag limit retention, crew size on dual-permitted vessels, framework actions, removal of blue runner from the fishery management unit and measures for Nassau grouper.

 * Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Headboat/Charterboat Reporting Amendment - Addresses Reporting Requirements for Headboats.

 * Joint Generic Dealer Amendment - Requirements for electronic reporting and frequency of reporting for seafood dealers.

The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for June 10-14, 2013 in Stuart, Florida. Details for the meeting and meeting materials will be posted at www.safmc.net

source: SAFMC

South Atlantic Red Snapper September 2012 Open Season

In September, recreational anglers will be get 6 fishing days for red snapper in South Atlantic federal waters. Based on a recommendation by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council), The recreational fishing season will open for two consecutive weekends made up of Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 14, 2012, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 17, 2012; the season then reopens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 21, 2012, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 24, 2012.

During the open recreational season, the bag limit is one fish per person per day and there is no minimum size limit for red snapper. The red snapper recreational annual catch limit for 2012 is 9,399 fish.

NOAA Fisheries may change the commercial and recreational season dates if severe weather conditions exist. If severe weather conditions exist, NOAA Fisheries will announce via NOAA Weather Radio and a Fishery Bulletin any change in the red snapper fishing seasons.

After the conclusion of the recreational September 14-17, 2012, and September 21-24, 2012 fishing seasons, red snapper may not be harvested or possessed in federal waters of the South Atlantic.

Harvest and possession prohibitions also apply to state waters for vessels holding federal snapper-grouper permits.

More information, including Frequently Asked Questions for the 2012 red snapper fishing seasons can be found online at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/SASnapperGrouperHomepage.htm

source: SAFMC

SAFMC Federal Fisheries Issues To Affect Recreational Saltwater Anglers

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearings and scoping meetings regarding fisheries management measure proposed for several federally managed species, including those within the snapper grouper management complex, dolphin (fish), wahoo, golden crab and octocorals within the South Atlantic region.

These measures will impact both commercial and recreational fishermen who fish in federal waters between 3 and 200 miles offshore ranging from the North Carolina/Virginia state line southward to the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys.

Public Hearings will be held on three separate amendments:

Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment to establish Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for species not currently listed as undergoing overfishing as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Annual Catch Limits (pounds or number of fish) will be set for species in the snapper grouper management complex as well as dolphin, wahoo, and golden crab.

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 9 includes commercial trip limit options for greater amberjack, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, and gag grouper.

Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 includes actions relative to the management of octocorals and non-regulatory actions that update existing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) information. Also, modifications to the management of Special Management Zones in South Carolina, sea turtle release gear requirements for the commercial snapper grouper fishery, designation of new EFH areas and EFH-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern are being considered.

Informal Public Scoping comments will be taken on four amendments currently being considered by the Council:

A Comprehensive Catch Shares Amendment (Amendment 21) is being considered to look at options for catch share programs for species currently under management through quotas (except snowy grouper), effort and participation reduction, and endorsement actions.

Snapper Grouper Amendment 22 explores options for long-term management of red snapper as the stock begins to rebuild.

Amendment 24 addresses the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock.

Scoping comments will also be taken on Golden Crab Amendment 5 to implement a catch share program for the
commercial golden crab fishery.

The hearings/meetings will be open from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Council staff will provide periodic presentations and be on hand to answer questions. Local Council representatives will take formal comments on the public hearing documents any time between those hours. Public testimony will be video-streamed live via a link from the Council's website as they occur.

The Council is also accepting written and email comments from January 12, 2011 until 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2011. Copies of the public hearing and scoping documents with details on how to submit written comments will be posted on the Council's website and available by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10.

For more information and the public hearing/scoping meeting schedule and locations, visit:

http://www.safmc.net/Meetings/PublicHearingsandScoping/tabid/624/Default.aspx

source: NOAA Fish News