Federally permitted red snapper season began yesterday and runs through August 1. Snapper are managed differently in the Gulf versus the Atlantic and in state versus federal waters. Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles. Atlantic state waters are from shore to 3 nautical miles. The southeastern United States is home to the largest concentration of saltwater recreational fishing in America. Whether seeking iconic fish to catch for sport or for sustenance, recreational fishing in the Southeast generates more than $15 billion in sales annually for more than 4.5 million fishermen taking more than 36 million fishing trips every year.
The Gulf season for federally-permitted for-hire operations is June 1-Aug. 1. The 2020 Gulf red snapper season for anglers fishing from private recreational vessels will be June 11- July 25 (45 days).
