2026 Red Snapper Season Thoughts Dear Flagler Sportfishing Club Members, For those of you fishing one or more of the 39 days during the 2026 Atlantic Red Snapper season, consider yourselves fortunate. That opportunity did not happen by accident. I have read the Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) request that the State of Florida submitted to NOAA Fisheries, and the data collected during the 2025 EFP pilot programs played a major role in securing this season for anglers. I have watched many anglers and captains become angry and frustrated with Florida’s handling of the 2026 Red Snapper season and aggregate bag limit. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I believe many people are missing the bigger picture. For decades, NOAA has managed Red Snapper under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) of 1976. Under that authority, NOAA controls Atlantic waters from 3 to 200 miles offshore and uses what it calls the “best science available” to determine season lengths, harvest limits, and regulations. The problem is that many anglers, captains, and even state fisheries officials believe that science has not accurately reflected the true abundance of Red Snapper off Florida’s Atlantic coast. For years, fishermen have argued that NOAA’s stock assessments rely too heavily on mathematical modeling and outdated assumptions instead of actual observations from people who spend time on the water. During the NOAA Amendment 59 hearings in early 2024, countless anglers, charter captains, and representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voiced opposition to the proposed bottom closures. The message was clear: Amendment 59 was not the solution. Fishermen consistently asked for practical management measures such as longer seasons, reasonable aggregate bag limits, and slot limits that would both protect the fishery and allow greater public access. Florida listened. The EFP programs were the first real opportunity for the state to collect independent, angler-generated data to challenge NOAA’s assumptions and advocate for better access. That is exactly why participation and reporting are so important. Here is my opinion: I fully support what the State of Florida is doing. If we truly want longer seasons, larger bag limits, and better management, then anglers and captains must participate in the process. The state is not asking for your secret fishing spots or your favorite tackle setup. They are asking for data — accurate catch and effort information that can be used as evidence in negotiations with NOAA. Data is power. Without it, Florida is forced to fight for us with one hand tied behind its back. In 2025, Florida conducted four separate EFP trial periods throughout the year. Participating anglers and captains were required to declare their trips and report detailed information, including catch totals, released fish, release conditions, and other trip data. Combined with the responses from the voluntary dockside and boat ramp surveys during the limited 2025 Red Snapper season, Florida was able to provide NOAA Fisheries with real-world, on-the-water data collected directly from recreational fishermen. That data mattered. Without it, we likely would not have received the 39-day season we have today. For years, fishermen have complained about NOAA’s mismanagement of Red Snapper. This is how we start fixing it. The EFP programs and reporting requirements give Florida the tools needed to push back against flawed federal estimates and advocate for a management system based onactual fishing activity and real fish counts. If anglers refuse to report their trips and catches, then we weaken the state’s ability to fight for expanded access. Silence helps NOAA maintain the status quo. Participation strengthens Florida’s position. If you want longer seasons, bigger limits, and fairer regulations, then speak up, participate, and provide the information being requested. Complaining after decisions are already made changes nothing. The people who engage in the process are the people who shape the outcome. Stand up. Be counted. Help build the case for better Red Snapper management in Florida.
