(MOBILE, Ala.) - It could be the shortest snapper season ever. Federal officials say this year's snapper season, which starts June 1, may only be 40 days. Last year's was only 48 days. That means for the first time ever, snapper may not be apart of the annual Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo on Dauphin Island. LOCAL 15 News spoke with rodeo officials about what this means for the rodeo and the area.
It's a tough blow to fishermen and the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo officials. Never in the history of the rodeo, has red snapper been off limits.
"Which is definitely disappointing news," John Napper with the ADSFR said. "This is our 79th Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo."
Federal officials say last year recreational anglers exceeded their allowable catch by more than 630,000 pounds, that's the reason the red snapper season may be cut to only 40 days.
Fishermen say the snapper count this year was larger than federal scientists predicted, meaning it took fewer fish to reach the pound limit.
Whether this will have a major impact on the rodeo is still murky.
"It's definitely, its kinda hard to tell, being that we never had it, but we're still hoping that folks will come out," Napper said.
Yet another blow, the fishing rodeo learned two other fish species: the triggerfish and amberjack, could be cut during rodeo time as well.
Napper says the fun will still go on, there are still plenty of fish left in the sea.
"We still got 30 species that we'll be awarding awards to," Napper said.
