NOAA Fisheries announced today the 2026 federal recreational red snapper fishing season in the South Atlantic and the issuance of three exempted fishing permits (EFPs) to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
The federal recreational red snapper season will open for three days this year from October 9 through October 11 —one day longer than last year’s two-day recreational season.
In addition, NOAA Fisheries has issued EFPs to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina authorizing extended recreational red snapper fishing seasons for eligible participants from October 9 through October 22. After a comprehensive view of the October season and additional information, NOAA Fisheries and the states will jointly determine whether a second season may take place in December 2026. NOAA’s EFPs allow states to pilot test new data collection and management strategies for the recreational harvest of red snapper in state and federal waters in 2026.
“NOAA is dedicated to working with our state partners, fishermen, and fishery managers to advance sustainable fisheries and strengthen the science that supports them,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D, NOAA administrator. “These efforts enable us to test new, innovative approaches and improve recreational data collection to support the long-term sustainability of South Atlantic red snapper.”
“Recreational fishermen and the states play an indispensable role in helping us better understand and manage the South Atlantic red snapper fishery,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “These pilot projects provide a great opportunity to strengthen our data and inform future management approaches.”
NOAA Fisheries is working closely with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council offsite link and states to rebuild the red snapper stock and investigate ways to reduce recreational discards. The goal is to work collaboratively with the states to improve the collection of recreational fishing data; expand insights into effort, catch, and discards; and to evaluate the potential benefits of state-specific management strategies while maintaining catches and discards within sustainable levels and informing long-term, state-led management.
Find out more from NOAA Fisheries regarding each state’s EFP.