The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will open weekends for red snapper fishing for private recreational anglers beginning Saturday, Oct. 17. The weekends will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Saturdays and run until midnight on Sundays.

The weekends will remain open for fishing until the Alabama private angler red snapper quota has been met, said Marine Resources Division (MRD) Director Scott Bannon.

“The Columbus Day weekend generated very little harvest due to the impacts of hurricanes Sally and Delta,” said Bannon. “We are committed to providing anglers access to the remaining red snapper quota, and we understand that weather, school and other activities will impact the harvest potential.”

Bannon said the 2020 red snapper quota could be met in the first weekend or it may take several weekends. He said the numbers caught will be shared on the ADCNR website for anglers to follow.

The additional days are available to private anglers fishing in state and federal waters adjacent to Alabama. Additionally, state-licensed commercial party boats may harvest red snapper inside 9 nautical miles of Alabama’s coast. Anglers must have an Alabama saltwater fishing license, Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement and report their red snapper landings in Snapper Check online prior to removing the fish from the boat or the boat with fish from the water.

Detailed red snapper landing information is available at www.outdooralabama.com/2020-red-snapper-landings-summary.

Bannon said gray triggerfish and greater amberjack are open to harvest and available for voluntary reporting through Snapper Check in the Outdoor AL app through Oct. 26 and Oct. 31, respectively. Beginning next year, both species will have a mandatory reporting requirement.

To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.