Gulf Red Snapper Could Be Worth $500 Each

With red snapper season opening along the Gulf of Mexico, researchers are offering up to $500 for each tagged red snapper caught by recreational and commercial fishers.

Research organizations have tagged nearly 4,000 red snapper across the entire Gulf of Mexico as part of the $10 million "Great Red Snapper Count." The study aims to estimate the Gulf's red snapper population independently of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's stock assessment.

Anglers who catch and report a tagged red snapper are eligible to win between $250 to $500, depending on the tag.

Watch: Great Red Snapper Count Video

“A suite of methods, including habitat classification, direct visual counts, depletion surveys, and a high-reward tagging study, will be used across the entire U.S. Gulf of Mexico,”Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources said in its June Outdoor Alabama newsletter. “This independent population estimate will help ensure the most robust management possible for this iconic fishery.”

Red Snapper season is open for all Gulf states this month; Florida’s begins June 11.

Learn more about the Great Red Snapper Count