Recreational red snapper season will be open 62 days this summer for anglers willing to take part in a pilot project designed to monitor the tightly regulated fishery.
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is one of four Southeastern states to receive a federal exempted fishing permit, or EFP, that lets anglers take part in testing out a data-collection program that will use a mobile application to monitor the recreational red snapper season. The hook-and-line-only season will be July 1-Aug. 31.
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Anglers who would like to participate must dowwnload the VESL mobile application to receive a copy of the EFP, which they will be required to keep throughout the season. Participants must agree to record their red snapper harvest and discard information.
Owners and operators of charters and headboats must complete an online request form to receive a copy of the EFP. Boat captains must agree to continue reporting their harvest of red snapper and discards through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reporting system.
There is no size limit. Private recreational anglers are limited to one fish per person or four fish per vessel, whichever is more restrictive. Charter boats, or those with up to six passengers, are also limited to one fish per person, or four fish per vessel, whichever is more restrictive.
Headboats, or those with more than six passengers, are limited to one fish per person or 20 fish per vessel, whichever is more restrictive.
Yamaha Motors’ conservation program Yamaha Rightwaters is supporting the project with a $300,000 grant.
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The project does not affect commercial red snapper management, according to DMF.
For additional information, visit the division’s red snapper season webpage or email RedSnapper.EFP@deq.nc.gov.
