Red Snapper Season Opens This Weekend In Florida

It's one of the most delicious deep sea delicacies in Florida, the Gulf red snapper season opens this weekend in Florida for select dates. The fall red snapper season for private recreational anglers and state for-hire operations in the Gulf of Mexico will be open on the following weekends:  Sept. 1–2 (Sunday through Monday of Labor Day Weekend) Sept. 6–8 Sept. 13–15 Sept. 20–22 Sept. 27–29 Oct. 4–6 Oct. 11–13 Oct. 18–20 Oct. 25–27 Nov. 1–3 Nov. 8–11 (Veterans Day Weekend) Nov. 15–17 Nov. 22–24  Nov. 28–30 (Thursday through Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend)  Red Snapper Season Private recreational anglers may harvest red snapper during these weekends in Gulf state and federal waters. However, state for-hire operations are limited to fishing for red snapper in Gulf state waters only. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will continue to monitor harvest relative to Florida’s available quota.  In the event of rainy days impacting the number of fishing days, Florida will evaluate additional Gulf Red Snapper season dates to add later in the season. If you plan to fish for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from fishing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.  If you're in Southwest Florida and looking for a spot to fish red snapper, you won't need to go far. Fort Myers Beach ranks as one of the top spots for red snapper fishing. There's plenty of fishing charters, or if you choose to go it alone, I'll suggest cigar minnows. You can harvest your own with a cast net, or find some at a nearby bait shop such as Master Bait and Tackle on Bonita Beach Road. Preparing Red Snapper The best way to cook red snapper, is to keep it simple. Pan seared in butter with some Cajun seasoning. Serve it with some beans and rice. Steaming it with indirect heat wrapped in a banana leaf is pretty delicious, too.