OPEN SEASON ON SNAPPER: ‘We caught monsters' — and they're red (PHOTOS)

They’re back and on the rack.

Red snapper were all over the racks Tuesday morning as captains and their anglers ventured out — and not really that far — to bring in their share of the signature fish.

“It was absolutely wonderful not to throw them back,” said Capt. Mike Parker of the Silver King.

For more catch-of-the-day photos, click here.

The snapper fishery has been closed for more than 10 months in the Gulf of Mexico, but as of Tuesday, June 1, every angler can now keep two snapper until July 23, but they have to be at least 13 inches to keep.

But from what I saw in a 45 minutes span at the docks Tuesday morning, size limit will not be a problem.

“We caught monsters,” Patrick and Daniel Bridges almost said in unison as they were climbing onto the docks at East Pass Marina. The two youngsters were fishing with Capt. Tim Adams on the Double Time.

The two boys, on their first-time fishing trip caught their limit of red snapper. The snapper averaged about 4 pounds.

“It was nice and calm out today,” Adams said. “There was a little thunderstorm far away, but it got nicer as the morning went on.”

Parker and his group from Texas on the Silver King brought in a big haul of red snapper. Their snapper averaged about 7-pounds across the board, but he did have two on the racks that were 10-pounds or better. Apples Miller, one of the females on the boat, caught the biggest — a 12-pounder.

Capt. Steve Brown on the Locked Up took his brother Scott Brown out on opening day. They reeled in two nice snapper and an amberjack. If you’re wondering why they only had two, the law says only the anglers can keep two snapper, not the captain or deckhand.

Seconds later, the Fish-N-Fool with Capt. Casey Weldon backed in from a 4-hour trip with 10 red snapper and a couple of mackerel on the racks. The anglers were from Baton Rouge, La.

“I can’t believe they’re hanging up,” Capt. Weldon said, after months and months of having to throw them back.

And there is no shortage of snapper, Weldon said. “There is plenty to go around.”

Capt. Dick Roben on the Due South came in with a dozen red snapper and a triggerfish, again on a four-hour trip.

“It was a little bumpy going out this morning, but it smoothed out,” said Roben. “There are a lot of people snapper fishing, but a lot trolling for mackerel as well.”

Just as I was leaving the docks, Capt. John Tenore on the Dawn Patrol pulled in with a nice little catch. They had three red snapper and a lane snapper on the racks to go with the one grouper. The anglers were from Tennessee and Texas.

Fishing is good, and the door is wide open for red snapper. So catch’em while you can. Who knows, you might even catch a monster.

See you at the docks.