Red Snapper Season Still Going Strong in Federal Waters

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The 2018 red snapper season for the for-hired industry continues to produce good catches in federal waters and it’s coming to an end in about 12 days from now so hurry and get them while you can.

The limit is two fish per angler in federal waters, compared to four fish in state waters.

Anglers going on four or eight hour trips out of South Padre Island have been bringing back fish weighing up to 10 pounds.

On a recent eight-hour trip aboard the Osprey, the 28 anglers on board caught 56 snapper, two per person, and several of them caught sharks, king fish, Spanish mackerel and vermillion snapper.

Anything caught beside red snapper is considered a bonus.

For Don Perkins, of Waco, the trip was a rewarding experience.

“This is fun,” he said. “We really liked it. We now know where to go again.”

Perkins, his wife, Tracy, and their son and daughter Ben and Alice, made their deep sea fishing trip for the first time.

Oscar and Mary Campos of Edinburg also made their first deep sea fishing trip.

“We had a boat and fished in bay waters,” Mary Campos.

“We are celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary and wanted to try fishing in the gulf. It has been great. My husband also caught a mackerel.”

Noe Gutierrez of Hondo, who described the trip as excellent, said he and his friends and relatives will be back.

The season for head boats and other for-hire operations like guided trips of one to four or six hours is good for 52 days this year, or from June 1 through July 21 and for recreational boaters is 82 days, or from June 1 through August 10.

Other boats making fishing trips out of the Island are Murphy‘s Charter Service and Breakaway Cruises.