JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. \u2013 Red snapper season was supposed to begin this weekend in Florida, drawing anglers and visitors to Northeast Florida for what many charter captains call one of their busiest stretches of the year. Instead, the recreational season has been put on hold after a federal judge ordered an immediate pause on the permits that allowed the expanded opening.<\/p>\n
The ruling came down one day before Florida\u2019s planned opener, leaving charter companies scrambling to cancel or reschedule trips and figure out alternative options for customers already in town.<\/p>\n
John Eggers, captain of Rock n Reel, said he did not learn about the pause until early Friday morning, and then had to start calling customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t even get the notification till 4 a.m. that morning, and of course, we\u2019re making phone calls, cancellations, losing revenue by the second,\u201d Eggers said.<\/p>\n
The season had been part of a longer recreational opening under exempted fishing permits used for South Atlantic states, including Florida. NOAA Fisheries said recreational red snapper fishing under those permits is not authorized while the injunction is in effect.<\/p>\n
The pause followed a lawsuit filed by a fishing trade group and others seeking to block the plan to expand recreational access.<\/p>\n
For charter captains, the timing is especially difficult. Eggers, who said he has been guiding for about 30 years, called red snapper season a key source of income and a boost after a slower spring.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my 30th year being a guide. This is my only source of income,\u201d Eggers said. \u201cThe snapper season really kind of sparked a slower spring for us and generated a lot more revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eggers said the financial impact is immediate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year it was over 10 grand in just the snapper fishery, not the inshore, not anything else,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s revenue that we can\u2019t recoup. It\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n