Expanded Red Snapper Fishing Season Halted by Federal Court

Expanded red snapper fishing season halted by federal court

The ruling was a result of a lawsuit spearheaded by the Southeastern Fisheries Association and other commercial fishing groups.

SEEING RED: CAPTAINS INCENSED OVER LAST-SECOND SNAPPER CLOSURE

Just one day before the opening of one of Florida’s most anticipated sportfishing seasons, anglers around the state targeting red snapper learned they’d be better off staying at the dock. For more than a decade, recreational fishermen targeting the prized bright-red fish in Atlantic waters crammed their efforts into tiny seasons, often allowing harvests of […]

Red snapper fish fight highlights Florida governor’s disdain for science

The red snapper is a popular fish to catch, but Florida's attempt to get an exemption that allows recreational anglers to reel them in for 39 days ran afoul of a federal judge. (Photo via FWC)One of the great joys of living in Florida is our access to fresh seafood — shrimp, scallops, grouper, you name it. I grilled some on Memorial Day and it was delicious! The source of all this bounty, the sea, may look like a limitless expanse, but it’s not.…

Florida revamps red snapper fishing after court ruling

TALLAHASSEE — Florida wildlife officials modified recreational red snapper fishing rules set to begin Friday, May 22, after a federal court issued an order halting such fishing in the South Atlantic.

Red snapper season receives two month extension - North Myrtle Beach Times

By Ruben Lowman A sweeping federal policy shift has transformed the upcoming South Atlantic recreational red snapper season, expanding it from a historically restrictive two-day window into a robust two-month block running from July 1 through Aug. 31. Under an Exempted Fishing Permit authorized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the South Carolina …

Judge takes on snapper rules

A proposed turnover of all red snapper fishing control to the state was halted by a federal judge last week, just before Memorial Day weekend. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Department press release said that on May 21, 2026, a rogue federal judge “sided with activists in an attempt to block Floridians from exercising their right to fish through the recently approved Exempted Fishing Permit for Atlantic red snapper issued by NOAA Fisheries earlie…