MAYPORT, Fla. – The popular “Oh Snap! Red Snapper Fishing Tournament” is making a big splash for its fifth year with some new twists in place.
The two-day tournament runs Friday and Saturday – a big change from last year when the red snapper season in the south Atlantic was just one day.
Anglers can catch and keep one fish per person per day.
“You can go out on Friday, weigh your fish in. If it is a 10-pounder and you go back out on Saturday and you got a 20-pounder, bring it in. The 20-pounder is going to count. The heaviest fish supersedes,” Tournament Director Dave Berg explained.
The winning fish last year weighed 24.02 pounds.
Berg said the change to two days allows competitors to have a better chance at catching “the big one.”
“The two-day season makes it more cutting edge. People want to get more involved. They have better chances and odds to win,” Tournament Director Dave Berg said. “When you catch your red snapper, and it is not the size that you want, and you want to throw it back or toss it back -- again it is one red snapper per person, so everybody’s going for the big one, not the baby one.”
Many competitors launched from the Mayport Boat Ramp on Ocean Street on Friday morning as they angle for the $10,000 in prize money.
However, several others were not competing and were just fishing recreationally for red snappers.
Chris Mountain is a retired service member from Folkston, Georgia. He is red snapper fishing for the first time.
“The first thing I thought was the parking lot is full,” Mountain said. “But it is good. You are in the open ocean. You are free having a good time. It is relaxing. It is something to do to get rid of the stress. I am out there to have a good time. [My cousin] is taking me out for the day. This will probably be the only day I go out.”
Berg is expecting at least 75 boats registered to compete.
There is no limit to the number of anglers allowed on each boat as long as the group doesn’t exceed safety capacity for the vessel.
Here are some other details competitors need to know:
- You can fish anywhere north or south along the Atlantic Ocean. There are no boundaries.
- You can only start fishing during safe light.
- Weigh-ins will be Friday and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. both days.
- Weigh-ins will be at the Mavi Waterfront Bar and Grill in Jacksonville Beach.
- The winner will be announced during an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday.
All the money made from the tournament benefits K9s For Warriors.
Four U.S. congressmen, including Florida Rep. John Rutherford and Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter, have created a task force with hopes of finding a way to make the red snapper season in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean longer.
“We need it because the red snapper are so abundant out there,” said Brady Carver about the current two-day South Atlantic red snapper fishing season. “They are starting to take over. Two days is better than one.”
