Snapper Season is On

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Snapper Season is On

Walker Thanen holds a whopper red snapper he caught during a four hour with Murphy Charter Services.
Walker Thanen holds a whopper red snapper he caught during a four hour with Murphy Charter Services.

The 2019 red snapper season started on June 1 and will run through Aug. 1 in federal waters. Now is the time to book a trip on one of several commercial businesses operating out of South Padre Island.

Known as head boats, these vessels are leaving every day for half- or full-day trips weather permitting until the end of the season. Among them are Captain Murphy’s Charter, Osprey Cruises and Breakaway Cruises charter services.

These two anglers from Monterrey, Mexico, could not be any happier as each of them caught their limits deepsa fishing.
These two anglers from Monterrey, Mexico, could not be any happier as each of them caught their limits deepsa fishing.

Each trip costs anywhere from $65 to $100, depending on the hours. These head boat operators will also make deep sea fishing trips if a boat has enough anglers and/or weather permitting.

The red snapper season in federal waters attracts fishing enthusiasts who enjoy eating the tasty fish, which is one of the most expensive seafood items at the supermarket.

The fishing limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch minimum size in federal waters. This compares to four fish with a 15-inch minimum size in state waters. However, larger snappers are usually caught in federal waters during the early days of the season.

The federally-regulated season is a boom for head boat operators as they capitalize on the tourist season which began Memorial Day weekend. Anglers from all the country and from as far as Monterrey, Mexico, come to the Island to fish for red snapper this time of year.

Freelance journalist Tony Vindell has more than 30 years experience as a newspaper reporter. Born in Nicaragua, he studied journalism and political science at the University of Missouri-Columbia and at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. He began his career working for The Pecos Enterprise in West Texas. Vindell also worked for The Laredo News, The Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, Port Isabel News Press and the Raymondville Chronicle/News. Vindell, who lives in Brownsville with his wife Sharon, enjoys hunting, fishing and traveling.

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