Morehead City, N.C. – Red Snapper Harvest and Research Initiative
Dates:
- The 2026 recreational red snapper season opens at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and closes at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12.
Donation Request:
- North Carolina fisheries officials are encouraging recreational anglers to donate their legally harvested red snapper carcasses for research purposes.
- Donations will help with stock assessments and ensure sustainable fishing practices.
Incentives for Donors:
- Anglers who donate a carcass and complete a catch card can enter a raffle to win:
- LiveBottom Boca 50 spinning reel
- LiveBottom Valor 60 spinning reel
- Each winner will also receive an inverted-hook descending device.
Donation Guidelines:
- Leave the head and tail intact.
- Retain guts and reproductive organs when possible.
Research Process:
- Biologists will measure the fish, determine its sex, and extract otoliths (ear bones) for age assessment.
Temporary Donation Sites:
- Capt. Stacy, Atlantic Beach Causeway
- Carolina Princess, Evans Street, Morehead City
- Intracoastal Angler, Wilmington
- Carolina Beach Municipal Docks
- Ocean Isle Fishing Center
Year-Round Donation Locations:
- N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, 3441 Arendell Street, Morehead City
- Cape Pointe Marina, Harkers Island
- Eastside Bait and Tackle, Washington
Harvest Regulations:
- Anglers are limited to one red snapper per person, per day.
- No minimum size limit for this year.
