Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the longest recreational Gulf Red Snapper season to date, with a record-breaking 126-day season for 2025. This is the longest American red snapper season since Florida first assumed management of the Gulf snapper season. This expanded season comes with additional days in the summer and fall from 2024. Letting anglers have more opportunities to bring home their American red snapper catch on major holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving.
“Florida is the fishing capital of the world—with 4 million licensed anglers and generations of families who enjoy our waters. After setting a record last year, we’re doing it again with the longest Gulf Red Snapper season in state history, giving Floridians and visitors even more time to fish on Florida’s waterways, said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Smart state management of Gulf waters has allowed us to offer these record-breaking opportunities to Floridians year after year.”
The 2025 recreational Gulf American red snapper season is open for anglers fishing from private recreational vessels or charter vessels. The summer snapper season will first begin on May 24 to May 26 for Memorial Day Weekend, and then reopen on June 1st and go on until July 31st. After which, there will be a closure till the start of the fall season on September 1st. The full fall season will be made up of the following dates:
- September 1 –14
- September 19 – 21
- September 26 – 28
- October 3 –5
- October 10 – 12
- October 17 – 19
- October 24 – 26
- October 31 – November 2
- November 7 – 9, 11 (Veterans Day)
- November 14 –16,
- November 21 – 23
- November 27 – 30 (Thanksgiving weekend)
- December 5 – 7
- December 12 –14
- December 19 – 21
- December 25 – 28 (Christmas weekend)
This new extended recreational red snapper season was made possible by the data-driven management approach of Florida’s State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS). In the event that there are weather-related closures that impact fishing days, the state of Florida will evaluate the option to add on additional days to the recreational season later on in the year. Additionally for anyone fishing for red snapper from a private recreational vessel in state or federal waters must be registered as a State Reef Fish Angler (with annual renewal), even if exempt from fishing license requirements.
Registration is available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
For more on recreational snapper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine.
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