NOAA announces the reopening of the 2025 federal red snapper recreational for-hire season

Red Snapper Season Reopens For Charter Boats in Gulf Waters

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The federal red snapper season for charter and headboat anglers in the Gulf is getting a second act to close out 2025. NOAA Fisheries has decided to reopen the recreational for hire season in federal waters. The move comes after scientists reviewed updated catch data. Officials say there...

NOAA announces the reopening of the 2025 federal red snapper recreational for-hire season

The Gulf federal red snapper for-hire season reopened at 12:01 a.m., local time, on Dec. 11, 2025, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on Jan. 1, 2026. The 2025 Gulf red snapper fishing season in federal waters for vessels with federal for-hire (charter/headboat) reef fish permits was 107 days (opened June 1, 2025, and closed at 12:01 a.m. local time on Sept. 16, 2025). Based on updated landings data, NOAA Fisheries determined that the red…