FWC Changes Red Snapper Harvest Season

[Sir reel]

For immediate release: February 5, 2009

Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554



FWC changes Gulf red snapper sport season



The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule Thursday that changes the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters. This action means that Florida’s Gulf red snapper recreational harvest season will match the currently established season in Gulf federal waters.

The sport harvest season for red snapper in Gulf state waters will be open from June 1 through Sept. 30. Previously, the season in Gulf state waters occurred from April 15 through Oct. 31.

“Red snapper are considered to be overfished and undergoing overfishing in the Gulf,” said FWC Commissioner Dwight Stephenson. “Shortening the fishing season in Gulf state waters will help rebuild red snapper populations and hopefully minimize the need for further fishing restrictions.”

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LS/MFM

PCB

[captkeyser]

Where are they getting their information???????? Snapper are a nuisance when Grouper fishing, as they are so thick you can't get your bait to the bottom. Whatever, not my favorite fish to eat anyway.

[wevans]

“Red snapper are considered to be overfished and undergoing overfishing in the Gulf,”

[wevans]

Dwight Stephenson became a member of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2007 when Gov. Charlie Crist appointed him to replace Sandra Kaupe on the seven-member Commission.

An NFL hall-of-famer for the Miami Dolphins, Stephenson and his wife, Dinah, live in Delray Beach. They have three grown children - Marshea, Dwight Jr. and Dwayne.

Stephenson played center for the Miami Dolphins from 1980 to 1987. Before then, he played center for the University of Alabama, where he studied social work. His compassion for children and people in need of social services led him to serve on the boards of directors for United Cerebral Palsy and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. He also serves on the Orange Bowl Committee.

His love of community and service extends to hands-on work, such as when he collected and donated 25 personal computers to at-risk kids in Miami Beach.

Stephenson is president of D. Stephenson Construction, Inc. - a general construction firm.

In his spare time, Stephenson said, he enjoys lake-fishing for bream and bass and does a little deep-sea fishing. He also enjoys turkey hunting and playing golf.

Stephenson was born in Murfreesboro, N.C. in 1957 and grew up in Hampton, Va., where he lived until he attended college.

"We all have to protect what's important," Stephenson said. "That's why I am serving on the Commission. Fish and wildlife are an important part of life in Florida, and I am happy to be a part of conserving and protecting them."

Stephenson's term expires in January 2011.

[Dabbler]

I'm being lazy again! What is the size and limit?

[Reel Cowboy]

I'm being lazy again! What is the size and limit?

It's all catch and release brotha.

[FlatCrazy]

I'm being lazy again! What is the size and limit?

It's all catch and release brotha.

And by release you mean feed flipper! Last time I went bottom fishing off PCB in September each and every undersized redsnapper was eaten by flipper as soon as they were thrown overboard. Even with the swimbladders deflated they can't swim fast enough to elude them.

[Reel Cowboy]

And by release you mean feed flipper! Last time I went bottom fishing off PCB in September each and every undersized redsnapper was eaten by flipper as soon as they were thrown overboard. Even with the swimbladders deflated they can't swim fast enough to elude them.

That ain't no big deal, Flipper got eat too.

[dolphinatic]

Dwight Stephenson became a member of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in 2007
An NFL hall-of-famer for the Miami Dolphins, Stephenson played center for the Miami Dolphins from 1980 to 1987."

Stephenson's term expires in January 2011.

#50 was the greatest to ever play the position in my opinion. Don't agree with him on this one though