Red Snapper Season 2026
North Carolina recreational Red Snapper season will open for 62 days in 2026
The season will open July 1 - August 31 for those willing to participate in a pilot project to test a state recreational data collection program monitoring a recreational Red Snapper season.
The Red Snapper Project is a new initiative from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries that opens a 62-day recreational red snapper season — July 1 through August 31, 2026 — in federal waters off the North Carolina coast.
The recreational Red Snapper season will open for 62 days this summer for those willing to participate in a pilot project to test a state recreational data collection program to monitor a recreational Red Snapper season.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries is one of four Southeastern states that received a Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) from NOAA Fisheries to explore the ability of managing the recreational red snapper fishery
All participants will be required to have a copy of the EFP with them. To participate and receive copy, private recreational anglers will need to download the VESL data collection application and agree to record their red snapper harvest and discard information.
Charter and headboat captains will need to fill out an online request form to receive a copy of the EFP. Those captains will also need to agree to continue to report their red snapper harvest and discards through their NOAA reporting system.
Season: July 1 – Aug. 31, 2026
Gear: Recreational hook and line only
Size limit: None
Bag limits:
Private Recreational - 1 fish per person or 4 fish per vessel (whichever is more restrictive)
Charter Boat (up to 6 passengers) - 1 fish per person or 4 fish per vessel (whichever is more restrictive)
Head Boat (Greater than 6 passengers) - 20 fish per vessel
Private recreational anglers can sign up for the pilot project and learn more about requirements by downloading the VESL application. Charter and headboat captains may request a copy of the EFP by going to [LINK].
For 15 years, data uncertainty kept federal red snapper seasons to just 1–2 days. VESL reporting provides the real-time, high-quality data needed to support longer seasons going forward.
What Your Data Does
- Provides real-time catch and effort information to fisheries managers
- Improves the accuracy of stock assessments used to set season length
- Reduces the data uncertainty that caused ultra-short seasons
- Demonstrates that longer seasons work when paired with quality data
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 continues operating carcass-donation freezers along the coast to collect age, size, and reproductive samples that complement electronic reporting.
Using the VESL app is mandatory for everyone fishing for red snapper under the EFP. Here's exactly what you need to do — it's straightforward and takes very little time.
- Download the VESL app: VESL is free and available on iPhone, Android, and desktop. Download it from your app store or visit the VESL website. You'll create an account the first time you open it.
- Create a Trip Ticket before you go: Before heading out, register your trip in VESL. You can do this up to 5 days in advance. Enter basic trip details like the date, number of anglers, and where you plan to fish.
- Go Fishing — July 1 Through August 31: 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 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. It takes less than a minute.