The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will open a recreational red snapper season in state waters every weekend in October and the first weekend in November, Executive Director Jamie Miller said Friday.

“After careful review and consideration of the available data from the federal and state red snapper seasons, we have determined a fall season will have minimal impact on the resource and will benefit our local recreational anglers by providing them the opportunity for additional harvest,” Miller said. “We ask that the anglers continue to participate in our voluntary reporting program so that we can continue to monitor the harvest and effort levels.”

Mississippi state territorial waters will be open for the harvest of red snapper on Oct. 3-5, Oct. 10-12, Oct. 17-19, Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31-Nov.2. The season will open at 12:01 a.m. each Friday and end at 11:59 p.m. each Sunday. The bag limit will be two red snapper per person with a minimum size of 16 inches.

In 2012 the Mississippi Legislature approved extending state waters to nine miles for fisheries management, and the law went into effect July 1, 2013. However, fishermen are reminded that the federal government does not recognize this distance, and anyone possessing red snapper farther than three miles south of the barrier islands could receive citations from federal or state law enforcement officers. Fishing between three and nine miles in Mississippi waters is at the angler’s own risk.

MDMR officials are asking fishermen to participate in the agency’s voluntary red snapper reporting program during the October season. They can report their trip data on the agency’s website, dmr.ms.gov, or fill out an information card available at local bait shops and on the MDMR website. Those with iPhones can download a red snapper app on iTunes.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at www.dmr.ms.gov.

FISH ON!

 

 

fish, Fishing, Mississippi, Red Snapper, Regulations

By Sid

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