In this new age of tightening recreational fishing regulations, measures like the closed South Atlantic red snapper fishery have unfortunately had a number of negative impacts, and the sportsfishing industry has paid a heavy price.

However, over the years stricter yellowtail snapper bag and size limits have created more bountiful days for the charter captains and anglers who fish for these deliciously smart fishes. These fish often referred to as flags because of their oval-slender shape, bright yellow streaked bodies, and deeply forked tails are caught in deep blue water, above tropical and semi-tropical reefs. Their keen eyesight and sensitive nature makes them a colorful and an agile quarry. In the majority of cases, it takes a technical approach to catch yellowtail consistently. My wife and I caught our limits of yellowtail snapper, many weighting between three-to-five pounds, within two hours. I’m sure our success would not have been nearly the same without the regulations conserving this fishery.

The AFC supports balanced and science driven management.