LDWF: State red snapper fall season possible

Extended summer season left more than 100,000 pounds available

The extended federal red snapper season that closed on Labor Day ended with more than 100,000 pounds still on the table before Louisiana’s self-imposed snapper quota is reached — leaving the potential of a fall state season a distinct possibility.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ LA Creel program, which measured the offshore catch near real-time, anglers caught more than 936,000 pounds of red snapper during the extended season.

That opens the door for a possible fall season, with almost 108,000 pounds that could be caught before Louisiana’s 1.04 million pound quota is reached.

A decision on a possible state-waters season this fall will likely be considered by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at its next meeting on Oct. 5 in Baton Rouge.

The federal red snapper season, originally set for three days in June, was extended 39 days as part of an agreement reached this summer involving Louisiana, the four other Gulf states and the U.S. Department of Commerce. It allowed recreational anglers to fish in both state waters and in federal waters out 200 miles from the Louisiana coast for red snapper on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day.

For more information on 2017 Louisiana red snapper landings estimates, click here.