Excitement is in the air as the Red Snapper season is scheduled to open on June 1st and continues through August 2nd. So, why all the fuss? Red snapper is delicious and lots of fun to catch, making it one of the most popular game fish in the Gulf of Mexico.
Red snapper can reach as much as 40” and weigh up to 50 pounds! And since they hang around reefs, wreckage, and offshore rigs at depths of fifty feet or more, getting them onboard presents quite a challenge. But having a picture of you holding one of these beauties is worth the effort, providing you with a lifetime memory and years’ worth of bragging rights!
Unfortunately, you have a small window of opportunity.
Why is the season so short?
Red snapper fishing has always offered a memorable experience for recreational anglers, but that resulted in overfishing from the end of World War II in 1945 up to the mid-1990s. Increased commercial fishing activity and more boats available for those fishing for pleasure eventually led to a fishery rebuilding plan in 2005.
The rebuilding plan aims to increase the red snapper population and ensure long-term harvest opportunities by 2032. The program is working: the red snapper stock is rising, but so is the rate of catch, meaning the season will remain shortened, and catch limits of two per day and a minimum of 16” long will be in place for 2022 and beyond.
Many say red snapper is delicious, but what does it taste like?
Red snapper has a mild and slightly sweet taste, and its meat is lean and moist with a firm texture. It is considered a light fish because of its low oil content, and it doesn’t have the “fishy” taste of some other varieties, making it perfect for anyone who likes mild-flavored food.
Red snapper is available in many restaurants, and there are countless recipes online if you prefer to prepare it at home.
What else should you know about red snapper?
Red snapper can live for up to 50 years, and they reach maturity faster off the coast of Texas than in other parts of the Gulf of Mexico. They reproduce at about two years old, spawning from May to October along rocky ledges or coral reefs.
Their fertilized eggs float on the water’s surface and hatch within a day. About a month later, the young fish settle in shallow waters, and as they mature, they move to the structures and eventually to the deeper waters of the Gulf. Red snapper are social fish, forming relatively large schools in and around structures, and these schools are typically made up of fish of a similar size.
Now, the hard part: knowing where to go and what you need to do to catch them. That’s where we come in!
We know where the red snapper call home!
The experienced captains at Wave Dancer Charters can help you find the fish, and they will also share the best methods for catching them. Just bring your license, entry fee, sunscreen, and be ready for a thrilling adventure. The June weather in Galveston, Texas, is excellent—and so is the fishing!
Talk to Captain Greg Ball or one of the other licensed captains—Taylor, Donnie, and Theron—and they will set you up with a boat, take you to the fish, and provide everything you need to succeed. It doesn’t get any easier than that!Contact Wave Dancer Charters today, and give yourself an incredible experience!
