The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is inviting recreational anglers to contribute Red Snapper carcasses for research during the 2025 mini-season, which takes place on July 11-12. The donated carcasses will aid in scientific studies.
Anglers who donate a Red Snapper carcass and fill out the necessary catch-card will receive an inverted hook-descending device, courtesy of South Atlantic Sea Grant. Each participant is limited to one device. Additionally, donors are entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of three SeaQualizer descending devices. To qualify, anglers must complete the catch-card accurately and clearly at designated donation sites.
The division has established additional temporary donation locations alongside eight year-round collection sites where anglers can bring their Red Snapper carcasses. Temporary locations include Bridge Tender Marina in Wilmington, Carolina Beach Municipal Docks, Capt. Stacy Fishing Center in Atlantic Beach, Carolina Princess Headboat Dock in Morehead City, and Pelagic Hunter in Sneads Ferry.
Year-round sites are Cape Pointe Marina on Harkers Island, Frisco Rod & Gun in Frisco, Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, Eastside Bait & Tackle in Washington, N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Wilmington Regional Office, Tex’s Tackle in Wilmington, Clem’s Seafood in Southport, and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters in Morehead City.
Anglers should leave the head and tail intact when cleaning fish and keep the guts/reproductive organs if possible. For those fishing on charter or head boats, it is advised to inform the fish cleaner about donating the carcass.
Division biologists will measure each fish, determine its sex when feasible, and extract otoliths (ear bones) for age analysis. This data will be shared with the National Marine Fisheries Service for future stock assessments of Red Snapper.
Recreational anglers can also log their fishing trips through the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Release app available on Google Play and Apple App stores or via the SAFMC Release website. Reporting harvested and released fish numbers helps improve accuracy in catch estimates by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The division recently announced proclamations for North Carolina’s 2025 recreational and commercial Red Snapper seasons following amendments to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Fishery Management Plan for snapper-grouper species. Red Snapper remains federally managed.
The recreational season opens at 12:01 a.m., Friday, July 11th and closes at 11:59 p.m., Saturday, July 12th. Anglers may keep one fish per person daily without size limits; captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain this limit as well. Details are available under Proclamation FF-24-2025.
The commercial season begins July 14th with a trip limit of 75 pounds gutted weight until January 1st or until quotas are met. Specific regulations can be found under Proclamation FF-23-25.
Data from commercially caught Red Snapper will be collected at fish houses; these carcasses should not be placed in Carcass Collection Program freezers.
Existing gear regulations remain effective across commercial, for-hire, and recreational snapper-grouper fishing sectors requiring onboard descending devices readily available during fishing activities involving snapper-grouper species along with non-offset circle hooks when using hook-and-line gear with natural baits regardless of tackle configuration.
Further details regarding NOAA Fisheries’ announcement on Red Snapper season along with best fishing practices including rigging descending devices tutorials are accessible online.
For more information about North Carolina’s Carcass Collection program or inquiries contact Amanda Macek at amanda.macek@deq.nc.gov or call 252-515-5537.
