Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Revised 2017 Recreational Fishing Season for Red Snapper Private Angling Component in the Gulf of Mexico

NMFS is re-opening the private angling component for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. The Federal recreational season for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ re-opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 16, 2017. For recreational harvest by the private angling component, from June 16, 2017, through Labor Day, September 4, 2017, the season will be closed Monday through Thursday with the exception of July 3, July 4, and September 4. After September 4, 2017, the private angling component will be closed through the end of the current fishing year. For recreational harvest by the Federal for-hire component, the season is unchanged and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 20, 2017. This temporary rule supersedes the previously announced Gulf red snapper 2017 private angling component season.