JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – On Friday, 60 to 80 boater participants will take part in a one-day tournament to mark the Atlantic red snapper season.
The “Oh Snap! Red Snapper Fishing Tournament” will allow anglers to fish for Atlantic red snapper.
The tournament director said the event comes together quickly because the red snapper season isn’t announced until a month before the actual date.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a temporary rule in June to reduce overfishing of red snapper in the South Atlantic, meaning the recreational season would be reduced to only one day.
David Berg, tournament director, said while the shortened season is unfortunate, everyone is making the most out of the one-day season.
“It’s exciting to see everyone’s got their boats. So you’re out here, Jacksonville Beach, you see them, a whole Marina behind us is full. Everyone’s ready to get out at first light in the morning and go catch those red snappers,” Berg said.
NOAA also set a recreational bag limit of one fish per person. The tournament allows up to eight people per boat and each person has to stick to the one fish limit.
Even with the strict limits, Christian Velasco was excited to participate.
“It’s a good tournament. It’s, you know, it’s catching one of the elusive red snapper. And it’s also for a good cause,” Velasco said.
Brooke Peterson will participate in the tournament with her dad because fishing serves as a bonding experience for them.
“I love fishing. I’ve been fishing since I was 3. And I love snapper. It’s so fun. And I love eating it. So it’s a win-win situation,” Peterson said.
Peterson said she and her dad are making the most of the one-day season.
“We’re not trying to damage the ecosystem and stuff. We’re just having fun, but we do what we can to make sure that all animals stay safe and that everything goes smoothly,” she said.
Even as a one-day event, the tournament is for a good cause, benefiting K9s For Warriors. The goal is to collect $10,000.
“The community’s receiving what we’re putting out. So that’s great. It just every year grows and grows and grows,” Berg said. “This year, all of the proceeds raised from this tournament we donate back to K9s For Warriors. So it’s just a great fundraising event. We raise money in our community and give back to our community. And that’s what it’s about.”
Competitors must snap a picture of the fish and submit it to the tournament’s social media account along with their boat number before bringing it to weigh in.
The official weigh-in is from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday at Mavi Waterfront Bar and Grill in Jacksonville Beach. The biggest snapper wins the tournament. The record for the biggest red snapper at the event is 25.2 pounds.
The top 10 get a cash prize, and the angler with the biggest catch gets $5,000.
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