Where the sky meets Searching for red snapper PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD RICKART
When red snapper season opened on May 22, hundreds of boats left Alabama ports and headed into the hazy pink dawn in search of the giant red fish. After three months of coronavirus mandated quarantine, officials said it was the largest opening day they had seen in recent years. The waters of the Gulf, it seems, are good for the soul. Last week Fairhope based photographer Richard Rickart joined charter boat Captain Gary Bryant and the crew of the Red Eye, which moors at Fort Morgan Marina, on a six hour cruise. The crew and their guests reeled in 11 red snapper, just a fraction of the 1,122,662 pounds set for the private angler season by the federal government for 2020. The largest snapper, captured in 2002, weighed in at 44 pounds and 12 ounces. While some fishermen may tell you they are trolling for one larger, most are simply enjoying the waves, the breeze and the friendship they find miles away from the closest worry.
10 Beachin’ � July 2020
