I began offshore fishing about ten years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, and I vividly remember the abundance of Red Snapper. Back then, it was nearly impossible to reach the bottom because the bait wouldn’t make it past the Snapper. These fish were everywhere, dominating the reefs and wrecks offshore. It was an exciting start to my fishing journey, but as the years went on, the situation became clear—the Red Snapper population has grown to unsustainable levels.

 

There’s no denying they’ve taken over. Red Snapper feed voraciously, consuming other species like Sea Bass, Beeliners, and various reef fish. Their dominance has severely impacted the balance of the ecosystem. The claims that they need ongoing protection are misleading and seem more tied to federal funding for NOAA than to actual conservation efforts. This isn’t rocket science—the numbers we’re being told don’t align with reality. I’ve seen it firsthand, and I simply can’t trust the reports NOAA releases about their populations.

 

Allowing Red Snapper to continue unchecked while imposing severe restrictions on bottom fishing only exacerbates the problem. These closures give Snapper more time and opportunity to dominate the reefs further, crowding out other species. The current Atlantic Coast fishing season, limited to just one weekend a year, is nowhere near sufficient. And to make matters worse, that weekend almost always coincides with heavy seas, overcrowded boat ramps, and unsafe conditions due to the sheer number of anglers on the water—many of whom are inexperienced or careless after drinking all day.

 

As a charter captain, the impacts of these restrictions are personal and far-reaching. If bottom fishing is shut down, it directly affects my ability to operate. I’ve built my business on providing clients with the chance to catch and enjoy fresh fish—a tradition that brings people together and sustains livelihoods. Losing even ten bottom-fishing trips a month would mean losing $10,000 in income. That’s not just a financial hit; it’s a blow to my passion for helping people experience the joy of fishing and the satisfaction of catching their own seafood. It’s why I do what I do.

 

If we allow this trend to continue, what’s next? Will we be banned from catching baitfish? Forbidden from using hooks with barbs? Limited to fishing only during certain hours of the day? This overreach is frustrating and unnecessary. NOAA and other regulatory bodies are overstepping their bounds, and it’s time for some common sense to prevail. The reins need to be tightened on these agencies before they regulate fishing into oblivion. Let’s protect the fisheries with practical, balanced measures—not sweeping restrictions that hurt anglers, the industry, and the ecosystem itself.