The Tampa Bay Times
New double-up season is around the corner. Both amberjack and red snapper seasons will do the unusual and unite this month. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was happy to announce the additional fall red snapper season for recreational fishermen and spearfishermen. According to the FWC, the added fall season will be held the last three weekends in October — Oct. 17-18, 24-25, and Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Amberjack is open now and will be open until October 31st, so the merging of both seasons on these weekend days, should push good volumes of sportsmen venturing offshore for hopes of amberjacks and red snapper. Both these fish species appear in keeper size ranges more often farther rather than closer to shore. So, it just makes sense to target both species on the same trip. The weather can be the big hold up. In October the Gulf can be plagued by tropical storms from the south or cold fronts from the north, so catching a good weather day is sometimes hard. Hopefully, some good weekend weather will allow sportsmen to get out 30 miles or more to the areas that tend to hold keeper size examples of both fish. The offshore waters are cooling down and that will help to move these fish closer to shore. Divers should bring a 3mm wetsuit for proper thermal protection in these cooler waters. The regular season size and bag limits for red snapper apply for this added season.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
