2026 Recreational Red Snapper Season

Underwater photo of a Red Snapper

The 2026 federal recreational red snapper fishing season in the South Atlantic will open for harvest for three days at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 9, through 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 12. This is one day longer than the 2025 two-day recreational season. 

  • The bag limit is one fish per person per day.
  • There is no minimum size limit.
  • There is no requirement to register and report harvest in North Carolina waters for 2026


For more information, see NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Atlantic Fishery Bulletin.

Thank you to Return 'Em Right for the Red Snapper photos

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