Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has approved Florida's exempted fishing permit, allowing it to control Atlantic red snapper management beginning this year.
The plan will allow a 39-day recreational season for fishermen and for-hire operators in the Atlantic waters. Florida had the same number of days for its Gulf snapper season a few years ago, which has since expanded.
The Atlantic red snapper season will run in two phases.
- May 22 - June 20
- Three October weekends
"This will be good for the local economy. This will be good to drive growth, to tackle and bait shops, hotels, restaurants, and the entire recreational community along Florida's Atlantic coast," DeSantis said during a press conference in Fernandina Beach.
Gov. DeSantis thanked the Trump administration and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for putting anglers first.
"This will allow Florida to pair expanding fishing opportunities with stronger, more accurate data collection through our state Reef Fish Survey, ensuring we continue to manage the fishery responsibly and sustainably. We're going to keep holding the line against bureaucrats who are trying to stall Florida's Atlantic red snapper EFP, and prevent Floridians from exercising their now constitutional right to fish based on what the Florida voters passed in 2024," DeSantis said.
Gov. DeSantis also predicted the Atlantic red snapper season would mirror the Gulf red snapper season due to the expanded season. DeSantis submitted a proposal for more control over the red snapper season in November 2025.
The Biden administration had previously set guidelines that many Florida officials, including Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and several congressional leaders, deemed too strict. NOAA had a one-day Atlantic red snapper season in 2024 and a two-day season in 2025.
"This was a layup. And to be able to give Florida the ability to manage this, it's going to make a lot of people happy. It's going to be good for a lot of businesses, and it's going to continue to stir Florida's way of life," DeSantis said.
