June 5, 2009 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Opening day of the 2009 Red Snapper
Season this past Monday, June 1st, saw thousands of pounds of fish being brought
into the docks in Orange Beach.
While the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) says that the Red
Snapper is an overfished species, you couldn't tell it from the
abundance of fish brought to the docks this past
Monday. Individual boats came to the docks with over 1,200 pounds
of fish. Prior to the opening of Red Snapper season, anglers were
reporting catching (and releasing) hundreds of Red Snapper as they were
targeting other reef fish. There are so many Red Snapper in
Alabama waters they have been caught in Mobile Bay, in the rivers
feeding into the bay, and as far north as the causeway. The success of the Red Snapper fisheries in Alabama is a direct result
of
Alabama's Artificial Reef Program. While Alabama has only 32
miles of Gulf Coast which extends out only 3 miles, the state has the
largest artificial reef program in the world. Red Snapper is by far not the only fish caught along the northern Gulf
Coast. Sean McMullen of Gulf Breeze, FL fishes from the private
tournament fishing boat Airborne. Sean and his team brought in a
104.8 lb first place Amberjack on Monday. Sean is on the 2009
Saltwater Series Fishing Tournament leader board three times. Besides his first
place Amberjack, he has the current first place King Mackerel (40.4
lbs), and the third place Grouper (42.9 lbs).
The Davis' from Shreveport, LA with a sampling of
their day's catch on the Eagle Express Charterboat
Team Airborne with 1st place Amberjack
Click on the play button below to view more pictures from the docks on
the opening day of Red Snapper Season 2009.
Red Snapper Season Opening Day
2009
