Fall Snapper Season

With this year's original snapper season wiped out because of oil, there may be good news in October for area anglers.

"Everybody has heard oil, oil, oil, and I think we need something just to move over that and move on with our lives."

Captain Steve Stewart is ready to wrangle up red snapper!

"Just let us get back to normal. Let us do what we did last year and the year before that, and move on."

Stewart found work spotting oil for BP, but now he wants to spot fish with customers on his charter boat. "From the spots that we've run over, there's tons of fish out there. We've been having calls since July, people wanting to fish as soon as the waters open, so hopefully we'll have some trips."

On a typical day during red snapper season, boats would not be sitting at the Dauphin Island Marina in the middle of the day. But now, the charter boats may not be here during the weekends in October.

Dr. Bob Shipp is the President of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Mangement Council.

"Well in all likelihood, we're going to have a weekend opening on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October 1st to the 22nd of November. Now it's not official until the 15th of September the way the law is written, and that's the earliest day they can approve it. This fall snapper opening is kind of nice. For the first time, it's kind of giving something back."

Some people may be worried about eating the snapper they catch. "My personal take is, if a snapper or any fish is healthy enough to bite a hook, he's probably pretty healthy. If he was impacted by the oil, and sick, lying on the bottom, they're not going to be chasing a hook."

Captain Stewart will have to wait until mid September to get the go ahead, but he's still happy about the potential of a fall season. "I think it's great! It will help the Gulf Coast and get people down here." If you're ready to catch some snapper, these charters are ready to take you out!