How likely is it that an under-sized red snapper will survive capture and release?
Minimum size regulations have been applied to both the recreational and the commercial red snapper fisheries since 1984. The purpose of minimum sizes was to increase the yield of the fisheries and to enhance the likelihood of female red snapper spawning at least once before being harvested. Both fisheries started with a 13 inch minimum, but over the years the minimum allowable length for harvest increased to 15 inches in the commercial fishery and 16 inches in the recreational fishery. Just recently the minimum size for the commercial fishery has reverted to 13 inches. For years there have been anecdotal reports of great numbers of dead, discarded, undersized red snappers floating off from behind fishing boats, both commercial and recreational. The ascent from depth to the water’s surface often produces injury to hooked red snappers due to hydrostatically-induced barotrauma (eyes bulging, intestine protruding from anus, air bladder distended and stomach protruding from mouth, etc.). Wh
