NOAA Announces the Reopening of the 2025 Federal Gulf of America Red Snapper Recreational For-Hire Season

Baton Rouge, Dec 11, 2025 - CONTACT: NOAA Gulf Branch, (727) 824-5305

• The Gulf of America federal Red Snapper for-hire season will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on December 11, 2025, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2026.
• The 2025 Gulf of America Red Snapper fishing season in federal waters for vessels with federal for-hire (charter/headboat) reef fish permits was 107 days (opened June 1, 2025, and closed at 12:01 a.m. local time on September 16, 2025).
• Based on updated landings data, NOAA Fisheries determined that the Red Snapper recreational federal for-hire annual catch target was not reached during the open season. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries is reopening the season to provide Gulf of America federally permitted for-hire fishermen opportunity to catch the remaining allocation.

Private Anglers Note: This reopening does not affect the recreational private angler season, which is determined by state agencies. Louisiana’s recreational Red Snapper fishing season is closed.