DeSantis announces ‘record-long’ Gulf red snapper season
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the 2023 Gulf red snapper recreational season, which will total 70 days – the longest combined season since the state assumed management over the season.
DeSantis said the season will be 70 days, which is two weeks longer than last year’s total.
Those fishing from private recreational vessels in state and federal waters in the Gulf and charter vessels without a federal reef fish permit that are limited to fishing in state waters will be able to participate in the 2023 Gulf red snapper season.
“We’re proud of being the fishing capitol of the United States,” DeSantis said.
“It will have a summer and a fall season. We’ve never had anything this long under state control,” he said.
DeSantis said summer season will run from June 16 and through July 31, including both Father’s Day and July 4.
The fall season will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October and November, including Veterans Day and the weekend after Thanksgiving.
“This is something that feeds into the economy, and the restaurants – and all that. But, it’s also just a great tradition. This is something that families have done for many, many years and I think there’s going to be more opportunity as a result of our efforts,” DeSantis said.
“I’m thankful for FWC for answering the call, you know, we always push to do more anything we do not just on this, you know, we don’t just settle. We want to continue to push the envelope,” he said.
DeSantis said the season used to be 40 days when he became governor in 2019.
“I’ve talked to a lot of the people that fish and they’re like, there’s a lot more snapper out there than what the federal government says there are. So why are we doing this restriction based off data that’s not even accurate?” DeSantis said.
DeSantis held the press conference with Congressman Dr. Neal Dunn and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Acting Executive Director Dr. Thomas Eason.
The governor also announced he would be approving $17 million in the fiscal year 2023–24 budget to support continued oyster restoration efforts in Apalachicola Bay.
