Florida has added eight harvest days to its 2026 private recreational Gulf red snapper season, creating a continuous opening from Oct. 9 through Oct. 22.
The added October dates are intended to better align recreational red snapper opportunities on Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts. The season had already been scheduled to run consecutively from Sept. 23 through Oct. 4.
After the extended October opening, harvest dates include Oct. 23–25, Oct. 30–Nov. 1, selected November weekends, Thanksgiving weekend, selected December weekends, Christmas weekend and Jan. 1–4, 2027.
The schedule applies to recreational anglers aboard private vessels in Florida Gulf state and federal waters. Charter-for-hire boats without federal permits are also included, but may fish only in Florida Gulf state waters. More regulations are available through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine section. Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
