by NOAA Fisheries staff
Red snapper recreational fishing opens each year on June 1st and closes when the recreational quota is met or projections are reached. The 2014 recreational season will be 40 days, June 1st thru July 11th. The Magnuson‐Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Fisheries Service to close recreational red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico when the quota is reached.
Red snapper recreational fishing opens each year on June 1st and closes when the recreational quota is met or projections are reached. The 2014 recreational season will be 40 days, June 1st thru July 11th. Photo: GOMFC Facebook
NOAA Fisheries projects the season closing date based on the previous year data. If subsequent data indicates quota has not been reached by the posted closing date. NOAA Fisheries may re-open the season.
According to NOAA Fisheries, the Marine Recreational Information Program’s (MRIP) catch estimates for recreational harvest is more accurate and less biased than previous years. The Access Point Angler Intercept Survey was redesigned in March 2013 to provide better coverage on the variety of fishing trips ending at different times of the day. The new methodology is an effort to eliminate past biases.
New estimates might not be directly comparable to the 2013 quota or other red snapper management reference points, which were based on historical catch estimates using years of data and the prior methodology.
Preliminary 2013 catch estimates produced by the MRIP using a new dockside intercept sampling methodology were unexpectedly high relative to previous years, and indicated the private and for-hire components of the recreational sector landed 5.8 million pounds whole weight (mp ww).
MRIP recreational snapper landings are estimated using a combination of dockside intercepts and phone surveys. The landings are obtained from four data sources:
1. Marine Recreational Information Program, including the For‐hire charter survey
2. Southeast Fisheries Science Center Headboat survey (HBS)
3. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Louisiana Recreational Creel.
4. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department charter and private/rental creel survey.
MRIP has replaced the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) program as the primary methodology for collecting and estimating recreational catches in the Gulf of Mexico.
According to NOAA Fisheries, MRIP is a more scientifically sound method for estimating catch and includes new procedures for conducting dockside intercepts and new statistical methods for estimating catch. Additionally, new sampling methodologies for collecting effort data have been tested through MRIP pilot studies and allows for anglers to be directly contacted.
In 2013, average weights for private/charter and headboat in the eastern Gulf were 7.77 and 4.90 lbs ww, respectively. Average weights for private/charter and headboat in the Western Gulf were 7.94 and 5.48 lbs ww respectively.
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