Marisa DeMar
News-Leader
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came to the Amelia Island Marina in Fernandina Beach Monday to announce the proposal of new recreational fishing laws surrounding the Atlantic red snapper.
He announced the official submission of an exemption request made to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce that would extend the recreational fishing of red snappers to 39 days per year.
“We are here today to announce that we have submitted this proposal, which we fully anticipate will be warmly received,” DeSantis said. “This will be very significant for the local economy here. It will also be very good for folks to be able to have more recreational activities to be able to engage in.”
The proposal includes a two-phase fishing season, with the summer season starting May 22 through the end of June, and the fall season taking place in October.
Several commercial and recreational fishermen were among the audience to receive the news, including two local charter boat captains who thanked DeSantis for his efforts.
“Thank you, governor. You’ve been working on this since you were my congressman,” said Capt. Robert Johnson. “Great job, it’s a great day for Northeast Florida.”
Roger Young, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee, additionally spoke on the proposal.
“This is a huge win for our anglers, a huge win for our communities, and a huge win for our coast here in Florida,” Young said.
Monday’s visit to Fernandina marks the first time since 2022 that the governor held a press conference in Nassau County. That conference was held in Callahan to grant a multimillion dollar check for Callahan’s water plant.
“It’s great to be back in Nassau County,” DeSantis said.