Fishermen are not meteorologists, but if you survey those who like to head offshore and enjoy bottom-fishing about the weather forecast for later this week, you're likely to hear them predicting windy conditions with small craft warnings.
That's because one of the most eagerly anticipated fishing opportunities, red snapper season, is open for only a couple of days. And invariably those few days are accompanied by almost impossible fishing conditions.
NOAA Fisheries announced last month that this year's recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 8 and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 10, 2022. During that time frame, recreational anglers are allowed to keep one red snapper per day.
The commercial season opens at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 and remains open until Jan. 1, 2023 unless the commercial annual catch limit is met or projected to be met before this date. There are no minimum or maximum size limits.
The total annual red snapper catch limit for both recreational and commercial anglers is 42,510 fish, 29,656 of which are allotted to recreational anglers. The commercial catch limit is 124,815 pounds, which computes to 12,854 fish, and the commercial trip limit is 75 pounds gutted weight.
The reasoning behind the short season is that federal fisheries officials are trying to rebuild a population that is considered overfished, a premise many recreational anglers would argue.
Federal officials closed the red snapper fishery in 2010 in an effort to allow the fishery to recover from overfishing. According to S.C. Department of Natural Resources surveys, the population of red snapper off South Carolina is increasing but most fish are young, a sign that the population is still in the process of rebuilding.
NOAA Fisheries uses 2019, 2020 and 2021 recreational catch estimates to predict the recreational landings in 2022 and calculates a season length. According to NOAA Fisheries, the catch rate estimates are based on red snapper specific surveys for private recreational and charter vessel anglers conducted by South Atlantic states; Marine Recreational Information Program; and Southeast Region Head Boat Survey.
The recreational season was open for three days in 2021, and recreational landings were estimated to have exceeded the recreational annual catch limit by more than 9,000 fish. In order to reduce the likelihood that recreational landings would exceed the 2022 recreational annual catch limit, this year's season was shortened by a day.
Of course, the above applies to fish caught beyond the three-mile limit in federal waters. Earlier this year the South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation that allows for year-round harvest of up to two red snapper per person per day with a minimum size of 20 inches total length in state waters (inside three miles). The legislation mirrors catch and size limits for Georgia and Florida.
But red snapper are a rare catch inside the three-mile limit as they prefer much deeper habitat.
Red snapper are part of the snapper-grouper complex, and those fishing for them are required to have a descending device on board. Red snapper and other deep water species are susceptible to barotrauma, a condition that occurs when the fish are brought to the surface from deep water and their internal gases expand, keeping them from returning to the depths when released. Descending devices allow anglers to carry the fish back down to the depths they inhabit.
SC Governor's Cup
Blue Sky, a Georgetown boat owned by Greg Smith and captained by Jay Weaver, has dominated the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series this year. The Blue Sky crew won the season-opening Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament by releasing three blue marlin and one sailfish. They followed that by winning the Carolina Billfish Classic last weekend held at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, releasing two blue marlin and seven sailfish.
Fears of fewer boats fishing because of high fuel prices have been allayed. This year's Georgetown tournament drew 70 entries, five more than in 2021. And 53 boats fished CBC compared to 40 in 2021.
Through two tournaments, Governor's Cup participants have weighed three blue marlin (all at Georgetown) while releasing 31 blue marlin, 1 white marlin and 93 sailfish.
The final event in the 2022 S.C. Governor's Cup is the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament scheduled July 20-23.
America's Boating Club
America's Boating Club Charleston will hold a boating safety classes July 9, July 23 and Aug. 6 at 1376 Orange Grove Road, Charleston. The classes begin at 9 a.m. and end around 4 p.m.
Successful participants earn the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Boater Education Card. The cost is $25 for adults and youth 12-18 are free. Call 843-312-2876 or email lynes@tds.net.
