Regulators say that the Gulf’s red snapper population appears to be robust and growing, but the 2010 snapper limits will likely be the strictest ever, possibly one fish per day or a 30-day season.

Charter captains say such restrictions will sink their industry, and recreational anglers say there won’t be any reason to leave the dock.

While the final catch estimates for the 2009 season aren’t in yet, regulators say that recreational anglers exceeded their 2.4 million-pound quota by an additional 1 to 2 million pounds. The way federal fisheries law is written, the extra fish caught in 2009 mean the 2010 limit will have to be that much stricter.