Red Snapper Season: 3 Days Only—Hurry or Miss the Fish Party!
Published Date: 9/23/2026
Rule
Summary
Hey South Atlantic anglers! The 2026 red snapper recreational fishing season is set for just three days—from October 9 to October 12. You can catch one red snapper per day during this short but sweet season, helping protect the fish while still letting you enjoy the thrill of the catch.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Commercial sector closed Aug 24–Dec 31, 2026
The red snapper commercial sector in the South Atlantic EEZ closed on August 24, 2026 and remains closed through December 31, 2026. Commercial fishermen cannot harvest under the commercial sector during this closure period.
Three-day recreational season (Oct 9–12, 2026)
You can fish for red snapper in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone from 12:01 a.m. local time on October 9, 2026 until 12:01 a.m. local time on October 12, 2026 — a 3-day recreational season. This announcement is the official opening and closing for the 2026 recreational sector.
State EFPs allow extended season (FL, GA, SC)
NMFS issued exempted fishing permits (EFPs) to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources that allow participants to fish for red snapper under EFP terms from October 9, 2026 through October 22, 2026. Participants in these EFP projects must land or possess red snapper under their state's EFP and cannot participate in the recreational season announced in this temporary rule.
One-fish daily bag limit; no size limit
During the recreational open season you may keep one red snapper per person per day. There is no recreational minimum or maximum size limit for red snapper during the open season.
Zero possession after season closes
After the recreational sector closure at 12:01 a.m. local time on October 12, 2026, the recreational bag and possession limits for red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ are zero — you may not possess recreationally caught red snapper in Federal waters after the season closes.
Recreational annual catch limit: 22,797 fish
The South Atlantic recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for red snapper is 22,797 fish, and the length of the recreational season is being used as the accountability measure to constrain harvest to that ACL.
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Key Dates
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