Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit Season 2026

To participate, private recreational anglers must sign up for the pilot project by registering on the VESL website. 

All charter and headboat captains DO NOT register for the VESL application.  Instead, they should request a copy of the EFP by going to https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/VH5sQ4SCR8.   
 

For 15 years, data uncertainty kept federal red snapper seasons to just 1–2 days. VESL reporting provides near real-time, high-quality data needed to support longer seasons going forward.

What Your Data Does

• Provides near real-time catch and effort information to fisheries managers
• It is a first step in exploring how to improve data quality to better inform season length
• It examines season length on effort, harvest and discards

Future Seasons

If North Carolina demonstrates it can collect high-quality data through VESL, the Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) could be extended for two additional years — 2027 and 2028. Your participation directly affects whether this continues. The Division of Marine Fisheries also operates carcass-donation freezers along the coast to collect age, size, and reproductive samples that complement electronic reporting.

Using the VESL app is mandatory for private recreational anglers only. Here's exactly what you need to do — it's straightforward and takes very little time.

For private recreational fishermen:

• Download the VESL app: VESL is free and available on iPhone, Android, and desktop. Download it on the VESL website. You'll create an account the first time you open it.
• Before heading out, declare your trip in VESL: You can do this up to 5 days in advance.
• Go Fishing: The 2026 season runs from July 1 through August 31 in federal waters off North Carolina. You may keep 1 Red Snapper per person per day (vessel limit of 4, or whichever is more restrictive) with no minimum size limit.
• Report Your Catch Within 24 Hours: After your trip, open VESL and report what you caught — including both harvested and released fish. You must submit your report within 24 hours of your trip departure time.

For charter boat vessels and headboats: 

• To qualify as a charter and headboat captain, you must have held a South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Snapper Grouper Permit during the 2025 calendar year. You must also hold the South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Snapper Grouper Permit to fish from July 1-August 31 2026. You must also hold a current North Carolina blanket for-hire vessel CRFL or a North Carolina for-hire Captain's CRFL. 
• If you meet these requirements then you can request a copy of the 2026 South Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permit issued to NC Division of Marine Fisheries to fish for Red Snapper in federal waters. You can get your copy HERE.

The Division is encouraging recreational anglers to contribute to important fisheries research by participating in the NC Carcass Collection Program.

How to Participate:

1. Bring the legally landed and filleted Red Snapper carcass to one of the designated drop-off locations. 
2. Complete a short catch card using the materials located inside the freezers. Cards must be filled in accurately, honestly, completely, and legibly to be eligible. 1 angler/fish and 1 angler/card.
3. That's it! Leave your card in the provided bag with the carcass in the freezer.

The Carcass Collection Program is a statewide effort funded by proceeds from sales of the N.C. Coastal Recreational Fishing License. Carcasses donated by recreational fisherman are a critical source of data for the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. The division has placed freezers at designated sites across coastal areas to allow anglers to donate filleted fish carcasses. From fish that are donated to the program, biologists can collect length, age, and sex data that can be used in stock assessments to better manage the fisheries resources of the state.

For more information and a map with freezer locations visit our Carcass Collection Page.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is currently looking for commercial, for-hire, and recreational fishermen to participate in the SAFMC Release Project. Reporting released fish on their app could provide a crucial source of information for scientists. Learn more HERE.