The red snapper fish has been controversial for some time. When there used to be a lack of red snapper for recreational fishing, now there seems to be an abundance. Director of the Center of Sportfish Science and Conservation, Dr. Greg Stunz, says “there’s more red snapper than we’ve seen in a lifetime.”
The only problem, there has not been enough research to show that there is an abundance of red snapper.
With the iSnapper app, data can be collected to show where snapper are being caught and about how many fish are being caught at a time.
Dr. Stunz says, “the main thing we’re looking at is the number of anglers, and what their catch rates are like and how often they go.”
iSnapper is a pretty simple app to use.
Record where you’re docking off from, how many anglers there are, then start trip.
Go fish, come back and record the fish you caught and released.
The iSnapper app helps collect this data but it also records data from all recreational fish.
Avid angler, Matthew Valadez, is on the water everyday. He says the best way he can keep up with the fish he caught is by looking at his own YouTube videos.
But says, now he can just check back at all of his logged trips on the iSnapper app.
“Instead of having to use your pen and paper, you got your phone so it’s like having pen and paper on your phone,” says Valadez.
Red Snapper season begins Friday June 1st and will last 82 days, giving anglers plenty of time to fish and record all data from their trips.
“The more reports we get the more refined data we have, and ideally we can provide more access to the fishery with that better data,” says Stunz.
ISnapper is also partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife to help better manage and look over all data collected.
To find more info you can check out iSnapper.org
