Capt. George Tunison

“I am proud to announce that this snapper season will be the longest season since our state took over red snapper management in the Gulf,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis recently. “Florida is proud to be the Fishing and Boating Capital of the World.”

While a great number of local and visiting anglers are laser focused on fighting a silver king or tarpon, the offshore crews are out searching for delicious red snapper. This year the harvest season will be divided into two parts — 61-day “summer season” that started this past week on the 1st and ends, July 31. Another 42, weekend “fall” season dates will be added, starting Sept. 1-2 through to Nov. 28-30.

The few reports I’ve received agree that going out to bottom attractions in 150 feet and beyond puts you in the right area. Before you motor out and drop your baits, make sure that you have the required venting tools or approved descending device on board and ready to use, as well as a dehooking tool. Use only non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks in state waters, and non-stainless circle hooks in federal waters, with no offset requirements. Lastly, be sure to have signed on to the State Reef Fish Angler program at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, which must be renewed annually.

With red snapper one of the top most purposefully mislabeled or “fraud fish” sold to consumers today in both seafood markets and restaurants, catching your own is the surest way to know you’re actually eating true Gulf red snapper. Studies by various groups over recent years all agree that 40 to 50% of the time you’re not getting what you paid for.

Red snapper catches must have a TL or total length measurement of 16 inches to harvest with a limit of two fish per angler.

With red grouper season closing at the end of the month there’s still time to locate hot spots and numbers of fish with most reports agreeing that the 100-foot zone is a good place to start.

Boca Grande is definitely and still the place to be for concentrations of tarpon with crabs and threadfins the current hot natural baits. The Zman Herculez and the DOA Baitbuster are always good soft plastic swimbait choices.

Off the beach or coastal tarpon action is currently more productive when heading north of Boca while inshore canal dock lights draw typically very hard to fool juvenile tarpon, along with redfish and trout as by-catch.

Want to challenge a shark? You’re in the right place and at the right time as we are currently in shark central. From the top of the Spreader Canal, local flats, the river and passes, we have sharks aplenty. Is a one-ton shark encounter a possibility? It is theoretically possible since a nearly 1,300-pound hammerhead has already been caught in Boca Grande.

If you decide to do battle, just make sure you have adequate equipment as well as proper tools and knowledge, to make sure of a safe catch and release with hands and all 10 fingers still attached. If you’re new to the area or fishing and you happen to catch a shark and want to bring it aboard to get a picture with it, do yourself and others onboard a favor — don’t! Even a small shark can hurt you. Sharks are basically made from rubber and can bite their own tails, or you, in a flash. Sharks lying on a deck can play possum, even seem dead, then suddenly come to life ready to chew on feet, ankles and legs. A yard-long shark held up by the tail for that great Florida vacation picture is the classic way to get badly bitten from ribs to thighs.

If you plan to fish sharks from any shoreline then be sure to first take the Shark-Smart educational course at MyFWC.com/SharkCourse to obtain your permit, which must be renewed annually.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-282-9434 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.