Red Snapper Season: Details & Where To Go (Updated 2024)

Red Snapper Season By Region

Federal Red Snapper Season

According to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the Red Snapper Season in Federal Waters will open on June 1, 2024 and has no set close date yet.

In 2023, the Federal Red Snapper Season ran from June 1, 2023 through August 25, 2023.

Alabama

The 2024 Alabama Red Snapper season is set to begin on Friday, May 24th and run until the private angler quota is projected to be met. The season is structured into four-day weekends, running Friday through Mondays, aside from the exception of the week of July 4th, where the season will be open for the entire week.

The 2023 season was set to run from July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, but was cut short on October 17, 2023 after the state's 2023 federal allocation of Red Snapper was caught. The 2023 quota was 591,185 pounds.

Florida

The 2024 Florida Red Snapper Season has not been announced yet.

The 2023 Florida Red Snapper Season was originally set to run from June 1, 2023 through August 25, 2023, but on August 11th, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a 17-day extension to the season, which ran through Thanksgiving Day.

Louisiana

The 2024 Louisiana Red Snapper Season will open on Monday, April 15th and run seven days per week. There is no set close date as of now.

The 2023 Louisiana Red Snapper Season ran from May 26, 2023 through December 31, 2023 after Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Rob Shadoin signed a declaration of emergency. Additionally, the bag limit was increased to 4 red snapper per person on July 17, 2023.

Mississippi

The dates for the 2024 Mississippi Red Snapper Season has not been announced yet.

The 2023 Mississippi Red Snapper Season ran from June 1, 2023 through July 7, 2023 and re-opened on September 1, 2023.

Texas

Red Snapper Season is open year-round in Texas, and Federal Red Snapper Season in Texas officially opens on June 1st, 2024.

In 2023, the season opened on June 1st.

What Is Red Snapper?

Red snapper are a popular and well-known fish species, scientifically named Lutjanus campechanus. They are found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States, but their range extends throughout the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. These fish are easily recognizable by their distinctively bright red or pinkish skin, though younger snappers may have a more silvery appearance.

Where Can I Catch Red Snapper?

Red Snapper fishing is great pretty much anywhere you go along the Gulf of Mexico, but some of our favorite Red Snapper destinations are Destin, Galveston, Orange Beach, and Panama City Beach.

What Is The Difference Between State & Federal Waters?

Regulatory differences between state and federal waters, including variations in fishing seasons, bag and size limits, underscore the importance of understanding your location. Typically, U.S. state waters reach up to 3 nautical miles from the shore, but in the Gulf of Mexico, this boundary extends to 9 nautical miles, affecting Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida's Gulf Coast.

This distinction not only influences an angler's catch but also significantly affects fishing guides due to the scarcity and higher cost of federal reef fish permits in the Gulf of Mexico. Since no new permits have been issued since 2003, the number of available guides is limited. While federal waters offer more abundant fishing opportunities, securing a guide for these areas can be more challenging.

Private Recreational Fishing Versus For-Hire Recreational Fishing

Two distinct categories define the recreational fishing scene: private recreational fishing and for-hire recreational fishing. The former encompasses individuals or groups engaging in fishing purely for pleasure, where they are solely responsible for arranging their own gear, transport, and incurring any related costs. In contrast, for-hire recreational fishing offers a service where clients pay for a professional's expertise, including the provision of equipment and transportation, typically through a guided trip or charter service.

For-hire operations, given their capacity to accommodate more anglers and potentially harvest more fish, often benefit from increased daily bag limits. This adjustment ensures that even with more participants, the practice of fishing remains within the bounds of sustainability.

Book Your Next Red Snapper Trip

Red Snapper is one of the most popular fish to catch, and once the annual seasons are announced, Red Snapper trips start booking up quickly. If you're in search of a trusted, vetted guide that knows how to put you on the snapper, Captain Experiences is the place to find them. Access top local fishing guides across the Gulf and book your next Red Snapper fishing charter online in minutes.