When Is Red Snapper Season in Florida? Rules and Size Limits

Fishing and Florida go together like peanut butter and jelly, but unlike the beloved sandwich, there are some rules about how to fish in the state. Of all the fish caught in Florida, the red snapper is one of the most recognizable, as well as one of the most commonly eaten. Today, we are going to find out when red snapper season in Florida is, plus learn a little about the requirements to take them home. Let’s get started.

When is Red Snapper Season in Florida?

There are two different seasons for red snapper, depending on which part of the state you are fishing in.

Red Snapper Season in the Florida Gulf

The 2023 red snapper season in Florida was open from June 16th through July 31st and will reopen in the fall for 3-day weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) during October and November. The daily bag limit during red snapper season is two per person. The minimum size to bag a red snapper is 16 inches.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the primary segment of open season for red snapper in Florida is over, although the weekends are set to open up for fishing again in October and November.

Red snapper season in the Gulf is set at the state level, and there are a few important things to know. First, the regulations and season apply to “recreational anglers fishing from private vessels… in state and federal waters” in Florida. Essentially, this means that if you aren’t a commercial operation and aren’t in private waters, the season and bag limits apply to you.

Second, charter for-hire boats that don’t have a federal permit are limited to two fish per person per day in federal waters, but the rules in Florida Gulf waters are going to depend on the type of vessel.

Red Snapper Season in the Atlantic Ocean

In the Atlantic Ocean, the recreational red snapper season is open year-round in state waters and July 14th and 15th in federal waters (an extremely short window). Additionally, the bag limit in state waters is two fish per person, and in federal waters, one fish per person. The minimum size to bag a red snapper in the Atlantic is 20 inches.

In the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern coast of Florida, the red snapper populations differ and fall under different rules, including season length and bag limits.

How is Red Snapper Season Determined?

There are three primary agencies that determine the red snapper season in Florida: the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. Together, these agencies pull data to set the season dates, bag limits, size limits, and gear requirements for red snapper fishing in state and federal waters. Ultimately, each agency has a goal of ensuring the sustainability of the red snapper population while balancing the recreational and commercial fishing opportunities for people along the coast.

This balancing act can result in some seasonal changes, with this most recent year being a perfect example. In 2023, the Gulf red snapper season was 70 days long, which is the longest season since the FWC was founded. The Atlantic season is determined by NOAA based on the stock assessment and catch estimates of red snapper. The season is much shorter than in the Gulf, and it may not open every year depending on the data they get from the fisheries.

Red Snapper Conservation

Red snapper is a fantastic fish to eat, and as a result, it’s faced some serious challenges over the years due to overfishing. Most of the problems began in the 1950s, directly after WWII, when new technology and massive commercial operations began increasing their catches. Soon, the annual take was over 5 million pounds of red snapper. By the 1980s, red snapper numbers were below 5% of their spawning potential and numbers had plummeted. It wasn’t until the 2010s that real changes started to happen as new laws were put into place to save the fish.

Now, with these new laws in place, the minimum stock size threshold has clear definitions and boundaries, giving organizations like the NOAA the ability to set parameters for anglers. Recently, red snapper has gone from “overfished” to “rebuilding,” showing that the efforts to help the fish populations have been working.

What Permits Do You Need to Catch Red Snapper In Florida?

The simplest way to fish for red snapper in Florida is to head out on a charter boat. This bypasses your individual need for any permits or training and lets you fish for fun without the hassle of legal stuff. That being said, it is possible to go and fish for red snapper on your own, but you need to have a few things:

• A valid Florida saltwater fishing license, which you can purchase online through the FWC website.
• A State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS) designation on your license, which you can get for free online.
• You will also need to report your catch through the FWC app or website.

Whichever method you take, you can be sure that the end result is one tasty reward.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © EngineerPhotos/Shutterstock.com