Recreational snapper season begins this Friday

Florida’s recreational red snapper season will open this Friday, June 17 and run consecutively through July 31. 

This season applies to recreational anglers fishing from private vessels in the state and federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico.  Commercial vessels that do not have a federal reef fish permit may also participate but are limited to fishing for red snapper in Florida Gulf state waters only. 

Recreational anglers are required to have a permit that can be acquired online at myfwc.com.

Anglers are limited to a daily bag limit of two fish per person.  The minimum size for each fish is 16 inches.

According to the Florida Wildlife Commission, Florida was requried to reduce the 2022 quota by 13% to pay back 2021 overages.  The current 2022 quota is 1,167,163 pounds.

The season will reopen in the fall for the following weekends: October 8-9 (Saturda and Sunday), Oct 15-16 (Saturday and Sunday), Oct 22-23 (Saturday and Sunday), Nov 11-13 (Friday through Sunday for Veterans Day Weekend), and Nov 25-27 (Friday through Sunday for Thanksgiving Weekend). 

The world record for a red snapper is 50 lbs, 4 oz, taken from the Gulf of Mexico.