Red snapper season 2026
Every state's red snapper season on one page: federal waters, state waters, bag, size, and what you need before you leave the dock.
The short answer
- South Atlantic: 2026 federal season: Oct 9–11 (opens 12:01 a.m. Oct 9, closes 12:01 a.m. Oct 12); FL, GA and SC run permit seasons Oct 9–22.
- Gulf: Private anglers: federal-water season set by each Gulf state under delegated state management (varies by state); federal for-hire season Jun 1 - Oct 26, 2026.
- Which season is yours: Seasons in South Atlantic federal waters follow the state you land in — see the rulebook for boats landing in your state. NOAA set a 3-day federal season for every South Atlantic state and issued permits letting FL, GA and SC run Oct 9–22 seasons. A possible December season will be decided after October's catch is counted.
Atlantic
South Atlantic: North Carolina to the Florida Keys
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North Carolina
Boats landing in North Carolina
- Federal waters
- Oct 9–11, 2026 only (12:01 a.m. Oct 9 to 12:01 a.m. Oct 12)
- Bag
- 1 per person per day
- Size
- No size limit
Opens Oct 9
The 3-day federal season, announced by NOAA and by NC DMF for North Carolina anglers. NC did not take a state permit season, so these three days are the whole 2026 season for boats landing in NC. Still prohibited in NC state waters (inside 3 miles) — the fish must come from federal waters.
Inside 3 miles (state waters): Closed year-round · No harvest or possession · N/A. North Carolina rule
NC DMF announcement Sep 22, 2026 / NOAA SERO FB26-052 · checked
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South Carolina
Boats landing in South Carolina
- Federal waters
- Oct 9–22, 2026 under SC's permit season (the federal season is Oct 9–11)
- Bag
- 1 per person per day
- Size
- 20 in total length (SC permit season)
Opens Oct 9
SC permit season: valid SC saltwater license plus a free Red Snapper Harvest Permit (GoOutdoors SC, from Oct 2); declare every trip and report within 24 hours in the VESL app; trip must begin and end in SC. Descending device rigged and ready, non-offset non-stainless circle hooks, dehooker. Permit holders keep fish under the permit only, not also the federal season. Anglers outside the program get the federal Oct 9–11 days (1 fish, no size limit).
Inside 3 miles (state waters): Open year-round · 2/day · 20 in total length. South Carolina rule
SCDNR / NOAA SERO FB26-052 (Sep 21, 2026) · checked
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Georgia
Boats landing in Georgia
- Federal waters
- Oct 9–22, 2026 under GA's permit season (the federal season is Oct 9–11)
- Bag
- 1 per person per day
- Size
- No size limit
Opens Oct 9
GA permit season (NOAA-approved Sep 21): trip must begin and end at a Georgia landing; register and report trips as GA DNR requires. Permit participants keep fish under the permit only, not also the federal season. A possible December season will be decided after October.
Inside 3 miles (state waters): Open year-round · 2 per person per day · 20 in total length. Georgia rule
NOAA SERO FB26-052 (Sep 21, 2026) · checked
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Florida (Atlantic)
Boats landing in Florida
- Federal waters
- Oct 9–22, 2026 under FL's permit season (the federal season is Oct 9–11)
- Bag
- 1 per person per day (within a 10-fish snapper-grouper aggregate)
- Size
- No size limit
Opens Oct 9
FL permit season: State Reef Fish Angler designation (free) and declare every trip in FWC's Atlantic Red Snapper Reporting System before leaving; trip must depart from and return to Florida's Atlantic coast. Captain and crew keep none on for-hire trips (for-hire boats must join the Atlantic For-Hire Reef Fish Registry). A possible December season will be decided after October.
Inside 3 miles (state waters): 2026: Oct 9–22 only, in state and federal waters (FWC Executive Order 26-33) · 1 per person per day (within a 10-fish snapper-grouper aggregate) · No size limit (Oct 9–22 season). Florida (Atlantic) rule
FWC Executive Order 26-33 (Sep 22, 2026) / NOAA SERO FB26-052 (Sep 21, 2026) · checked
Gulf
Gulf coast: Florida to Texas
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Florida (Gulf)
Boats landing in Florida
- Season
- 2026: May 22 – Jul 31; Sep 1 – Oct 4; Fri–Sun Oct 9–11, 16–18, 23–25, Oct 30 – Nov 1; Sat–Sun Nov 7–8, 14–15, 21–22; Nov 26–29; Dec 5–6, 12–13, 19–20; Dec 25–27; Jan 1–4, 2027
- Bag
- 2 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate)
- Size
- 16 in TL min
Open today
Florida sets this season for state AND federal waters off its Gulf coast; State Reef Fish Angler registration required. Weekend dates and holiday windows through Jan 4, 2027 (FWC, checked Sep 21).
State and federal waters: Florida (Gulf) sets this season for both. Florida (Gulf) rule
FWC 2026 · checked
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Alabama
Boats landing in Alabama
- Season
- 2026 AL season opened May 22, 7 days/week in state and federal waters until quota met or Dec 31
- Bag
- 2 per person
- Size
- 16 in total length minimum
Open today
AL sets its own season under state management (2026 private quota 664,552 lb); may close early when quota is met.
State and federal waters: Alabama sets this season for both. Alabama rule
AL MRD 2026 · checked
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Mississippi
Boats landing in Mississippi
- Season
- May 22 – Jul 5, reopening Sep 4–7, 2026; weekends after if quota remains
- Bag
- 2 per person
- Size
- 16 in total length minimum
Closed for the year
MS-ROLP permit required; season may extend weekends-only after Sep 7 if quota remains
State and federal waters: Mississippi sets this season for both. Mississippi rule
MS DMR 2026 · checked
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Louisiana
Boats landing in Louisiana
- Season
- 2026: May 1 – Aug 9, reopened Aug 27–30 and Sep 4–7; closed until further notice
- Bag
- 4 per person
- Size
- 16 in total length
Closed for the year
Quota-managed season; Recreational Offshore Landing Permit required; captain/crew may not keep limits on for-hire trips.
State and federal waters: Louisiana sets this season for both. Louisiana rule
LDWF 2026 (Aug 23 reopening release) · checked
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Texas
Boats landing in Texas
- Federal waters
- 2026 federal season opened May 22; open as of Sep 1 — TPWD closes it by public notice when Texas's allocation is reached
- Bag
- 2 per person
- Size
- 16 in total length
Open today
Texas sets the private-angler season in federal waters off Texas (NOAA delegated management). State waters differ: 4 fish, 15 in, year-round.
Inside 9 miles (state waters): Open year-round (Texas state waters) · 4 · 15 in total length. Texas rule
TPWD 2026 · checked
On the water, Chum shows the rule for the water you're standing in, even with no signal. Point the camera at a fish and it names it, then tells you if it's legal to keep.
Get the appState by state
When is red snapper season in North Carolina in 2026?
For boats landing in North Carolina: Oct 9–11, 2026 only (12:01 a.m. Oct 9 to 12:01 a.m. Oct 12). Bag: 1 per person per day. Size: No size limit. Inside 3 miles (state waters): Closed year-round, No harvest or possession, N/A. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in South Carolina in 2026?
For boats landing in South Carolina: Oct 9–22, 2026 under SC's permit season (the federal season is Oct 9–11). Bag: 1 per person per day. Size: 20 in total length (SC permit season). Inside 3 miles (state waters): Open year-round, 2/day, 20 in total length. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Georgia in 2026?
For boats landing in Georgia: Oct 9–22, 2026 under GA's permit season (the federal season is Oct 9–11). Bag: 1 per person per day. Size: No size limit. Inside 3 miles (state waters): Open year-round, 2 per person per day, 20 in total length. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Florida (Atlantic) in 2026?
For boats landing in Florida (Atlantic): Oct 9–22, 2026 under FL's permit season (the federal season is Oct 9–11). Bag: 1 per person per day (within a 10-fish snapper-grouper aggregate). Size: No size limit. Inside 3 miles (state waters): 2026: Oct 9–22 only, in state and federal waters (FWC Executive Order 26-33), 1 per person per day (within a 10-fish snapper-grouper aggregate), No size limit (Oct 9–22 season). The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Florida (Gulf) in 2026?
For boats landing in Florida (Gulf): 2026: May 22 – Jul 31; Sep 1 – Oct 4; Fri–Sun Oct 9–11, 16–18, 23–25, Oct 30 – Nov 1; Sat–Sun Nov 7–8, 14–15, 21–22; Nov 26–29; Dec 5–6, 12–13, 19–20; Dec 25–27; Jan 1–4, 2027. Bag: 2 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate). Size: 16 in TL min. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Alabama in 2026?
For boats landing in Alabama: 2026 AL season opened May 22, 7 days/week in state and federal waters until quota met or Dec 31. Bag: 2 per person. Size: 16 in total length minimum. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Mississippi in 2026?
For boats landing in Mississippi: May 22 – Jul 5, reopening Sep 4–7, 2026; weekends after if quota remains. Bag: 2 per person. Size: 16 in total length minimum. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Louisiana in 2026?
For boats landing in Louisiana: 2026: May 1 – Aug 9, reopened Aug 27–30 and Sep 4–7; closed until further notice. Bag: 4 per person. Size: 16 in total length. The official rulebook is the final word.
When is red snapper season in Texas in 2026?
For boats landing in Texas: 2026 federal season opened May 22; open as of Sep 1 — TPWD closes it by public notice when Texas's allocation is reached. Bag: 2 per person. Size: 16 in total length. Inside 9 miles (state waters): Open year-round (Texas state waters), 4, 15 in total length. The official rulebook is the final word.