


Needless to say, the process doesn’t always please everyone.īecause of careful management, the Red Snapper population has gotten stronger and, in late 2017, it was removed from ‘overfished’ status to ‘rebuilding’ status, further confirmed in May, 2018. This is a delicate process, one intended to balance demands of consumers with the overall health of the fishery. In 1988, NOAA determined that Red Snapper was being overfished, leading to new rules that limited season dates, number of fish to harvest, number of commercial licenses issued, and more. To watch overall health of our fishery, folks at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) gather data about volume of fish harvested, then make assessments about how safely a species can be removed without causing significant decline or non-viability, long term (i.e., sustainability). As an expected consequence, over many years of recreational and commercial efforts, the Red Snapper population, among other species, has declined. When I first learned of the season dates, my first thought was “Arghhhhh!,” but then I remembered WHY those harvesting dates are periodically limited.įolks have been harvesting Red Snapper from the Gulf since the 1800s, but volume exponentially rose after WWII when recreational anglers were able to get further offshore in fiberglass boats outfitted with better motors and navigational tools. The fish offers a mild, flaky, slightly sweet, bright white fillet - perfect for many kitchen preparations - and because it’s SO delicious, it’s an in-demand fish, one that both commercial and recreational anglers seek. Then chuck it in the oven to bake until golden on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside with a scent that will drive you wild.Gulf Red Snapper season is open June 11 to July 20 – not a long time, especially for those who love this crimson-colored beauty. If you are using a slow cooker, cook it on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.

Whole red snapper will take 20 to 25 minutes to cook, depending on how much salt is added to the water. That said, this oven-baked red snapper with garlic & basil is an easy recipe that you can prep before you start work. The internal temperature of a cooked fish is 137 degrees F. But like many of you, I find myself rushing to make sure lunch is ready on time for me to get back to my desk. 2 tablespoons olive oil Extra virgin olive oil, for serving Balsamic vinegar, for serving Sea salt Method Preheat the oven to 400✯. One would assume that working from home means you have more time for homemade meals. Oh, and did I mention the potatoes tucked underneath that soak in all the flavors from the wine, olive oil, fish, herb, and cherry tomatoes? I call this a one-pot dish for the whole family, so less fuss and more time for you to do other fun stuff. Who wouldn’t want a deliciously simple ‘one-pot meal’ that practically cooks itself while you toil at your home desk (if that is the case) and all you need to do, is break away for a few minutes to slather a few knobs of butter over the fish for that beautiful golden brown hue and it’s ready to be served?
