Galveston fishing charter company
832-917-FISH(3474)
Today is
the last day of the 2015 recreational red snapper season in federal
waters. This year the weather cooperated with anglers, as each day
conditions were such that the “mosquito fleet” could easily hit the Gulf
of Mexico in search of the two fish-per-person limit of one of their
favorite fish.
I
made three long offshore trips during this time frame and we limited
out each time, which was no challenge. Legal-sized red snapper were not
everywhere; however, the smaller of the species was.
During
a recent discussion with Lance Robinson of the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD), I mentioned the large number of under-sized (under
16 inches in length) fish, with many being juveniles in the 12-inch
range.
He
said that the TPWD analysis shows that fish of that size will grow to
the 16-inch range within a couple of years, so that is good news for the
future of this valuable resource.
The
near-perfect weather allowed many more anglers to fish for red snapper
this year and it will be interesting to see how this affects the
estimated poundage caught this season and its effects on next year’s
quotas.
My
only surprise was the very slow action on king mackerel. Normally, by
this time of year, kings are thick around the near shore wells and
platforms. That was not the case at the many stops we made during our
trips.
Galveston’s party boats were able to make numerous trips the past 10 days, limiting out on red snapper each time.
Monday,
Capt. Matt Smith took 100 anglers out on the party boat New Buccaneer
where in addition to full limits of red snapper they landed a Warsaw,
116 vermilions, five ricking grouper, five ling, eight almaco jack and a
king mackerel.
Recreational red snapper catches will continue to be allowed on charter and party boats until July 15.
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