Anglers Can Help Contribute to the Collection of Red Snapper Data

The recreational fishery for red snapper will open for three weekends (8 fishing days) in July 2014. The first two weekends, July 11 – 13 and July 18 – 20, allow the harvest of fish Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but the last weekend, July 25 – 26, will only allow the harvest of fish on Friday and Saturday.

The recreational catch limit has been set at 22,576 fish. During the open recreational season for red snapper, the bag limit is one fish per person per day and there is no minimum size limit.

This season will provide another brief window of opportunity for biologists to gather important biological information that may be used in future red snapper stock assessments. State biologists will be collecting data during the season from carcasses donated by anglers. For South Carolina anglers, this is a chance to help improve the understanding of the red snapper fishery in the South Atlantic. Because there is a real need for these samples, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging anglers who fish for red snapper during this period to participate in this data collection effort.

Anglers may donate their red snapper carcassesto the DNR by dropping them off at any one of the following drop off sites (designated freezers):

* Fish On Outfitters – 800 Sea Mountain Hwy., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

* Harrelson’s Seafood Market – 4368 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

* Georgetown Landing Marina – 432 Marina Drive Georgetown, SC 29440

* SCDNR Marine Resource Division – Accessible by boat only – 217 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412 (located under the Administration Building adjacent to the boat slip)

* The Boathouse Restaurant – 397 Squire Pope Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

** Freezers with the DNR logo have been placed at these locations and can be accessed 24 hours a day (with the exception of Georgetown Landing). Anglers need to complete catch cards for fish carcasses, which will supplied along with plastic bags at each freezer location. Additionally, carcasses can be dropped off at the Marine Resource Division Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 5:00 pm to the second floor of the Administration Building.