Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has formally submitted an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The proposal aims to transfer management of the recreational red snapper fishery in Atlantic state and federal waters to Florida, effective in 2026.

If approved, the new state-led plan would dramatically expand the fishing opportunities for Atlantic red snapper from the two-day federal season allowed in 2025 to a total of 39 days .

The proposed 39-day season represents an enormous increase in access for anglers, leveraging a management strategy that Florida has successfully implemented in the Gulf of Mexico. The schedule is set to include:

Summer: May 22 (Memorial Day Weekend) through Ju

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