Louisiana has reached a little over 50 percent of its private recreational allocation for red snapper in this year.
The latest catch statistics come from recreational red snapper recorded by LA Creel, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ near real-time landings data collection program. Reports say that landings are at 407,117 pounds or 54 percent of Louisiana’s annual private recreational allocation of 743,000 pounds.
Officials with LDWF say the current weekends-only season will continue to run until recreational landings approach or reach Louisiana’s allocation.
This year, state and federal seasons are running concurrently because federal fisheries managers approved LDWF’s application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to manage the private recreational snapper season in state and federal waters in 2018 and 2019.
According to LDWF, under the EFP, participating anglers are allowed to fish red snapper in the state territorial seas and adjoining federal waters, from shore to 200 nautical miles.
LDWF requests that recreational red snapper fishermen try out the tool developed to report catch electronically through the ROLP website or app. Though voluntary, reporting electronically will help us test this method of harvest data collection. To learn how to report catches electronically visit wlf.louisiana.gov/snapper-efp-faqs.
For more information on the 2018 red snapper season and detailed landing estimates, visit wlf.louisiana.gov/red-snapper.
