Recreational anglers in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were supposed to start a 62-day Atlantic red snapper season today. But a May court order, followed by NOAA’s June 29 rescission of the state permits, kept the opener from happening. For now, recreational red snapper harvest in South Atlantic federal waters remains closed.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia halted Exempted Fishing Permits that NOAA Fisheries had issued to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina on May 21. Those permits would have allowed participating private and for-hire anglers to keep red snapper during longer state-managed seasons in 2026.
Florida’s Atlantic season was supposed to open May 22. The Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina seasons were set to run July 1 through Aug. 31. Georgia would have allowed one red snapper per person per day with no minimum size. South Carolina would have allowed one per person per day with a 20-inch minimum. North Carolina had a per-person and vessel-limit structure.
NOAA Fisheries later rescinded the state EFPs after all four states asked the agency to withdraw them. The agency said Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have expressed interest in submitting new applications. Any recreational opening would come through a separate notice. The South Atlantic commercial red snapper season is still scheduled to open July 13.
The Plan Was Longer Seasons and Better Data
The permits were designed to test state-led red snapper management and collect better recreational harvest data. NOAA Fisheries said the EFPs were meant to improve information on recreational fishing effort and catch, while helping shape a longer-term state-led management strategy.
The pilot program would have given anglers a much longer season than the usual short federal opening. In exchange, participating states would have required trip registration and catch reporting. Georgia’s proposed program, for example, would have required trip registration and catch reporting through the state’s VESL app.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said the summer pilot season won’t happen as planned because there isn’t enough time for the legal process to play out before the July 1 opener. The agency said it’s working with partner states and federal officials on a revised permit application, with hopes of a possible fall season.
Why the Court Blocked the Permits
The lawsuit challenged the permits under the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs, which included commercial fishing businesses, trade organizations, and individual commercial fishermen, argued the permits would likely allow overfishing of South Atlantic red snapper and conflict with the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s conservation requirements.
The court did not issue a final ruling on the whole case. But Judge Rudolph Contreras found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits and said NOAA Fisheries had acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to consider key parts of the problem.
The court also found a credible risk that the extended seasons could increase fishing mortality, contribute to overfishing, and delay the red snapper rebuilding plan. That was enough to keep the permits from taking effect while the lawsuit continues.
What Anglers Can Actually Do Now
For now, recreational harvest of red snapper in South Atlantic federal waters remains closed. The blocked EFPs covered Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
The ruling does not affect Florida’s Gulf private recreational red snapper season or Florida’s Atlantic state-water regulations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
Anglers now have to sort through different state, federal, Atlantic, and Gulf rules before keeping red snapper. If you’re fishing the South Atlantic, check the most current state and NOAA Fisheries regulations before keeping one. As of today, the big July 1 opener anglers expected off Georgia and the Carolinas is not happening.
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