The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board recently voted unanimously to approve the state Marine Resources Division’s (MRD) proposal to expand the state’s 2025 red snapper season.
The changes should be great news for those who love to fish for Alabama’s signature saltwater species. State and federal waters will open to private and state-licensed charter vessel anglers for red snapper harvest on May 23.
“The recommendation from our Marine Resources Division is to set the opening of red snapper season on the Friday before Memorial Day and be open seven days a week through June 30,” Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told the board before its vote. “Then it would be open for four-day weekends starting July 4 until the quota is met. … The majority of the people who responded to the (MRD) survey wanted that season instead of just a weekend season.”
According to MRD’s Snapper Check data, private anglers harvested 570,856 pounds of red snapper during the 2024 season, well below the harvest limit of 659,654 pounds. MRD conducted a series of public meetings last fall and took public comments on fisheries management under the state’s control.
The season will be open seven days a week from May 23 until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 30. The season will then transition to four-day weekends starting July 4 until the private angler quota is met. The Alabama private angler quota for 2025 is set by NOAA Fisheries and is anticipated to be 664,552 pounds.
The previous weekend-only season format had been in place since 2017.
“Under state management, we have the ability to adapt our red snapper season to meet the needs of anglers that fish in Alabama,” Blankenship said. “For 2025, we are opening the season for the entire month of June to give our private anglers and state-licensed charter boats better opportunities during the peak of the season. We anticipate a great red snapper season this year that will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch red snapper through early summer and hopefully into the fall.”
The season dates listed above apply only to anglers fishing from shore, private recreational vessels and state-licensed Alabama commercial party boats that do not hold federal for-hire fishing permits. The season for anglers fishing from federally permitted for-hire vessels will be announced by NOAA Fisheries at a future date.
Alabama uses Snapper Check to monitor shore, private vessel and state charter angler landings during the season and will provide weekly updates at www.outdooralabama.com.
MRD will announce a season closure date when the 2025 quota is anticipated to be met.
This report was compiled from two articles published on the Alabama Department of Natural Resources’ Outdoor Alabama website.
Courtesy of Alabama News Center
