Federal Red Snapper Season Closes November 20

AUSTIN — The 2026 private recreational red snapper season in federal waters will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20. This year, the federal red snapper fishing season opened on May 22 instead of the typical June 1 opening date, making 2026 the longest federal red snapper season since the inception of state management of red snapper in 2018.  

Opening the federal red snapper season the Friday before Memorial Day surpassed last year’s impressive 173-day season and offered saltwater anglers over 183 days of offshore red snapper fishing along the Texas coast. 

“The 2026 federal red snapper season offered nearly six months of red snapper fishing opportunities to the people of Texas,” said Robin Riechers, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Coastal Fisheries Division Director. “This remarkable milestone clearly shows that regional management of fisheries works to provide greater benefits and fishing opportunities to anglers.” 

The Nov. 20 closing date ends an extraordinary 183-day season in federal waters and allows state waters to remain open until the total allowed state catch limit is reached. After the closing date, coastal anglers in Texas state waters out to nine nautical miles can continue to keep up to four red snapper per day with a 15-inch minimum length limit. 

The federal red snapper season is managed by a quota system under an agreement between TPWD and the National Marine Fisheries Service. During the season, red snapper catch data (in pounds of fish) is monitored closely to determine when a federal closure is necessary. Texas closes the federal red snapper season when the state’s catch limit in pounds is reached for the year, with enough cushion to keep Texas’ state water red snapper season open year-round and maximize federal fishing opportunities.  

To estimate the state’s annual red snapper fishery harvest season, TPWD closely monitors red snapper landings through its creel survey program and mobile application. Anglers can continue to report snapper landings in state waters with TPWD’s mobile application, Texas Hunt & Fish, and are encouraged to always use the app to report their red snapper landings.  

Gulf-wide “DisCARD” Study 

The 2026 federal red snapper fishing season was also the first year for TPWD’s new gulf-wide “DisCARD” study.  

In partnership with Mississippi State University and the four other Gulf state agencies (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi), TPWD asked saltwater anglers to submit data collected while fishing on cards that TPWD distributes at certain boat ramps along the Texas coast. This research project to obtain information on reef fish caught and released offshore with real data from anglers will be utilized as part of ongoing assessments to help determine the sustainable harvest levels for important species like red snapper. 

This new research study will continue next year during the 2027 federal red snapper season. For more information about the DisCARD study, please visit: https://msucoastal.com/discard/