Even if you aren’t an avid angler, you’ve probably heard of the Red Snapper. Right up there with Mahi Mahi, Chilean Sea Bass, and “Grouper,” Red Snapper is one of the most recognizable fish in the world due to its popularity in restaurants.

Despite its culinary stature, Red Snapper is, nowadays, not only a prized menu item, but also a controversial and somewhat sensitive topic. A few weeks ago, the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, responsible for fishing regulations in federal waters off of NC, SC, GA, and the east coast of Florida, announced the dates of the 2024 Red Snapper Fishing Season: 12:01am on July 12th to 12:01am on July 13th. Anglers throughout South Carolina are perplexed: Red Snapper is, seemingly, no scarce resource, so why impose a one-day season? Let’s dive into the facts.

In 2020, the SAFMC reviewed fishery information for Red Snapper in the region and developed the Fishery Performance Report (FPR 2020 > Red Snapper) to gain a better understanding of the current state of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic region. To do so, they created an advisory panel of 25 members spanning recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen, charter captains, conservationists, and consumer representatives from NC, SC, GA, and the East Coast of Florida. The meeting included an airing of observations from every member, most of whom touched on the apparent abundance of Red Snapper in their home waters.

Most notably, a charter captain who operates out of southern South Carolina commented that over the last five years, he estimates to have caught fish equivalent to, or "larger than the South Carolina state record three separate times - this angler also noted that 20- to 30-pound fish are not uncommon. He observed that Red Snapper are coming back strongly off of Georgia and the Carolinas, and the fish are bigger, on average, than further south; further explaining that "the smallest fish he catches from Charleston to Savannah are from 15 inches (which is rare) and 5 to 8 lbs. The larger fish," he says, "are up to 35 pounds, with a couple even approaching 40 pounds."

Needless to say, it is incredible to see Red Snapper populations making a comeback. However, the population metrics are nowhere near what they were at their peak (see figure 3), and not yet stable enough to have a full-force Red Snapper season. In particular, the discrepancies between biomasses of older, more mature fish during peak populations (~1955) versus now are staggering. This estimation does show progress but not yet sustainable prosperity. 

When it comes to catching a Red Snapper, Toadfish has you covered! If you haven't had the chance to check them out, we've just released our new line of Offshore Spinning Combos and our currently running an Offshore Bundle Promotion! This bundle includes several free items with the purchase of any Offshore Combo that were hand-picked to put fish in the boat. Personally, I have had the opportunity to test both the Combos and the Offshore Bundle and both have consistently exceeded expectations. From the 30” Gag Grouper and monster Red Snapper to 50+” Cobia, I've seen these rods handle it all - and like absolute champs! They are the perfect accomplice for targeting giant, take-home-size Red Snapper on July 12th.

After catching your massive Red Snapper next Friday, you'll need to fillet it. And, lucky for you, Toadfish has the perfect lineup of Fillet Knives and Fillet Systems to help you take this fish from ocean to table. Our Stowaway System features our patented folding 8.5” Fillet Knife and Folding Cutting Board, which are easily stowable on the boat, in the truck, or at the dock. Additionally, our line of Fixed Fillet Knives is second to none, with our 8” model being perfect for effortlessly filleting 25, 30, or even 35lb American Red Snapper.

Snapper is an extremely versatile and delicious fish, and Toadfish has a few tools that will elevate your time in the kitchen. First and foremost, our patented Ultimate Spatula is a must-have when cooking any flaky-fish like Red Snapper. This spatula features a built-in spoon rest to keep surfaces clean and prevent contamination from bacteria. Additionally, the soft-flex, stainless steel head of the spatula makes grilling, pan-searing, or baking fish simple and easy. Try Snapper on the "Half-Shell" with our Ultimate Grill Set or dice up an awesome Snapper Ceviche, as pictured above. To really spice-up your Snapper recipe, try making a delicious Oscar-Style Snapper dish, topped with local South Carolina Blue Crab cracked and picked with our one-of-a-kind Crab and Lobster Set.