Breaking: South Atlantic Red Snapper Pilot Programs Approved

Anglers will enjoy expanded seasons in 2026 as states test data collection and management improvements

Alexandria, VA – May 1, 2026 – Today, President Trump announced that Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina’s Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) proposals for managing Atlantic red snapper have been approved. For 2026, anglers in each state will enjoy expanded seasons for this highly sought-after and economically important fish as the states collect critical baseline data and test state-led management of the recreational fishery.

This announcement comes after years of frustration for anglers and the sportfishing industry over incredibly short recreational harvest seasons for Atlantic red snapper despite notable improvements in stock health. Red snapper abundance is now at a record high, and the fishery is no longer considered to be overfished or undergoing overfishing. However, federal fisheries managers only allowed a two-day season in 2025, and just a single day in 2024, based on questionable federal recreational catch estimates. These extremely short seasons have resulted in severely compressed fishing effort during the opening.

“The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and our partners have been advocating for meaningful data collection and management improvements for South Atlantic red snapper for a long time,” said Martha Guyas, Southeast Fisheries Policy Director for ASA. “These EFPs are a transformational step in which rebuilding success finally allows for reasonable recreational harvest opportunities and key data will be collected to inform future management strategies. We are grateful to the Trump administration and members of the Congressional South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force for their support of these EFPs, as well as the Governors, Attorneys General, state legislators, and marine fisheries management agencies of the four South Atlantic states for their leadership in developing these pilot programs.”

Florida’s proposed season begins May 22 and will run for 39 days total, split between the summer and fall. The seasons in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina will open on July 1 and run for 62 days. During the open seasons, harvest will be constrained by each state using bag limits, aggregate limits and size limits that would apply to all recreational anglers in state and federal waters. In addition, the states will collect catch information from anglers and for-hire captains to monitor catches and gain insight into changes in angler behavior under pilot program requirements.

In 2018 and 2019, Gulf states were issued similar EFPs to test state-led management of Gulf red snapper before being delegated authority to manage the fishery long-term starting in 2020. In the years since, recreational data collection improvements undertaken by the Gulf states have allowed for expanded recreational harvest opportunities that meet local needs and satisfy conservation objectives set by federal fisheries managers.

After review of the 2026 results, the South Atlantic state pilot programs may be modified and renewed. Meanwhile, long-term plans for state management and other management improvements would be developed through the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

ASA looks forward to working closely with each state during the pilot programs, as well as federal fisheries managers, to ensure long-term successful management of this fishery.