Carcasses can be dropped off at locations up and down South Carolina coast
The recreational fishery for red snapper will open for a “mini-season” from Aug. 23-25, which will provide a brief window of opportunity for biologists to gather important biological information that will be useful for and enhance the 2014 red snapper stock assessment.
Biologists with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources are utilizing a number of different mechanisms to collect data, including carcass drop-off locations, online surveys, and dockside sampling. For South Carolina anglers, this is a chance to contribute towards the management of the red snapper fishery in the South Atlantic. Because there is a desperate need for these samples, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging anglers who catch any red snapper during this period to please participate in this data collection effort.
All recreational anglers who contribute a red snapper for sampling will be entered in a drawing to win a Yeti cooler.
Anglers may donate their red snapper carcasses to the SCDNR by dropping them off at any one of the drop off sites:
· Fish On Outfitters, 800 Sea Mountain Hwy., North Myrtle Beach;
· Harrelson’s Seafood Mkt., 4368 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet;
· Georgetown Landing Marina, 432 Marina Drive Georgetown;
· The Boathouse Restaurant, 397 Squire Pope Rd, Hilton Head Island.
Freezers with the SCDNR logo have been placed at these locations and can be accessed 24 hours a day. For more information on Carcass Drop Off Program check www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/carcassdropoff.html.
dition, boats that are returning through CharlestonHarbor can come by water to the MarineResourcesCenter at Fort Johnson to have their red snapper sampled. This o- site sampling is available on the specified dates between the hours of 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information on Site Sampling at MarineResourcesCenter at Fort Johnson check www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/onsitesampling.html.
Anglers can also contribute catch and fishing effort information during the seasons through an online survey. The online surveys will be used to collect basic information about an angler’s fishing trip, including date, length, and location of a fishing trip, as well as the number and size of fish landed and/or released. The online survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SCRSnapper2013.