Three-Day Snapper Season
NOAA Announces Three-Day Federal Red Snapper Season for the South Atlantic
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Key Points
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The 2026 federal season is one day longer than the 2025 season, which lasted two days.
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Anglers participating through the exempted fishing permits cannot combine those opportunities with the federal season; they may land or possess recreationally caught red snapper only under the terms of their respective EFPs.
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NOAA projects that the red snapper authorized under the EFPs will be harvested within the 14-day period running from Oct. 9 through Oct. 22.
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Florida, Georgia and South Carolina had sought a continuous 31-day October season, while a judge previously halted Florida’s request for 39 days and the other states’ request for two months. The judge, Rudolph Contreras, described the regulations establishing the longer seasons as “arbitrary and capricious.”
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The 2026 permits represent a second round of EFP applications; four permits awarded earlier in May to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina were later rescinded after a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction halting the authorized activities.
NOAA Fisheries opened the 2026 federal recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic for just three days, starting October 9 at 12:01 a.m. and closing October 12 at 12:01 a.m., with anglers allowed one fish per person and no minimum size. Action News Jax reported that Florida, Georgia and South Carolina will also get a separate 14-day season from October 9 through October 22 under special exempted fishing permits designed to test new state data-collection methods.
The three-day federal window is one day longer than 2025's two-day season. NOAA and the states will review October catch data to determine if a second season can happen in December. The approach aims to improve catch tracking, cut down discarded fish, and help rebuild the red snapper population, which remains depleted.
States Push Back on NOAA's Tight Season Limits
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have fought for much longer seasons. All three states requested a continuous 31-day October season, while Florida initially sought 39 days and Georgia and South Carolina asked for two full months. Count On 2 noted that this marks South Carolina's first recreational red snapper access since 2009. However, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras blocked those extended seasons, calling NOAA's regulations "arbitrary and capricious."
How the Exempted Fishing Permits Work Separately
Anglers in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina can participate in either the three-day federal season OR the 14-day state exempted fishing permit — but not both. Tampa FP explained that participants choosing the permit route cannot land or keep red snapper under the federal rules. These permits let NOAA and states test better data-collection and management approaches without affecting the official federal count.
NOAA projects that all red snapper harvested under the state permits will be caught within the October 9-22 window. The agency will analyze that October data to decide whether conditions allow a second season in December. This strategy aims to gather cleaner catch numbers while protecting the rebuilding stock.
A Second Round After Earlier Permits Were Blocked
These 2026 permits represent NOAA's second attempt at exempted fishing permits for the South Atlantic states. Fox 49 reported that NOAA had previously awarded four permits in May to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. But a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction that halted those earlier permits before any fishing could occur.
The legal battles reflect deep frustration among Southern fishing communities. States and anglers say the current red snapper seasons are too short to meet local demand, especially given the stock's recovery progress. NOAA counters that restrictive seasons protect the rebuilding process and ensure sustainable fishing.
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