Red Snapper Season Shut Down Off Texas Through May 2026
Published Date: 12/23/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 1, 2026, private anglers fishing for red snapper in federal waters off Texas will have to take a break until May 22, 2026. This temporary closure helps protect red snapper from being overfished and keeps the fishery healthy for the future. If you love fishing for red snapper in this area, plan ahead and enjoy other spots or species during these months!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Red Snapper Private-Angling Closure Jan–May 2026
If you fish for red snapper as a private angler in federal waters off Texas, you cannot harvest or possess red snapper from 12:01 a.m. local time on January 1, 2026, until 12:01 a.m. local time on May 22, 2026. During this period the bag and possession limit for private anglers in the closed EEZ off Texas is zero.
Who Is Covered — Private Anglers Only
This closure applies only to the private angling component (people on vessels without a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish). Vessels with a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit (the federal for-hire component) are not subject to this private-angling closure.
Closure Applies Regardless of Angler Residence
The EEZ off Texas closure applies to all private anglers regardless of which state they are from or where they intend to land. The closed area is defined as Federal waters off Texas as described in 50 CFR 622.2 (the waters in the Gulf west of a specified rhumb line).
Possible Additional Closures During 2026
After the EEZ reopens on May 22, 2026, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will monitor private recreational landings and may request NMFS to close the EEZ again in 2026 if needed to ensure the Texas regional management area annual catch limit is not exceeded. That means more temporary closures could occur later in 2026.
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Key Dates
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