Recreational Red Snapper Landings for the 2026 Opening Weekend

Baton Rouge, La., May 18, 2026 - Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) released the recreational Red Snapper landings estimate through May 3, 2026. LA Creel, LDWF's near real-time landings data collection program, indicates that 8,307 pounds, or 0.9% of Louisiana's 2026 annual private recreational allocation of 882,439 pounds, was landed during the first three days of the season.

The private recreational Red Snapper season began May 1 in both state and federal waters, running seven days a week with a daily bag limit of four fish per person and a 16-inch total length minimum size limit.  The season will remain open until recreational landings approach or reach Louisiana's allocation.

Resident and Non-Resident Recreational Anglers:

• Must possess valid Louisiana basic and Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licenses and a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) (no fee) to fish for or possess Red Snapper, and other offshore and reef fish species. 
• Anglers get a ROLP via the ROLP website.
• Once anglers have registered, they can save an electronic copy on their mobile device or print a copy of the ROLP indicating their valid ROLP and carry it on their person along with applicable licenses while fishing offshore. ROLPs are also displayed on LA Wallet.

State For-Hire Charter Vessels: 

• State for-hire charter captains (those who do not have a federal Gulf of America charter/headboat permit for reef fish) are not allowed to fish in waters beyond 9 nautical miles. 
• Must also possess a ROLP (no fee) to fish for or possess Red Snapper, as well as other offshore and reef fish species.
• May only fish for Red Snapper in state-managed waters (within the 9 nautical miles from shore), when the Louisiana recreational Red Snapper season is open. 

Federal For-Hire Charter Vessels: 

• Vessels with federal reef fish for-hire permits will remain under federal regulations and may only fish during the federal season, which will open June 1. 
• May only fish in federal waters during the federal for-hire season – June 1 through September 16.
• If a federal for-hire charter captain also holds a Louisiana charter license, he/she may also fish state waters, but only when the federal for-hire charter season overlaps with the Louisiana season. When the federal for-hire season closes, the federal for-hire captain may not fish state waters. 

LDWF encourages anglers to reduce barotrauma while fishing for Red Snapper and other reef fish by using descending devices to return fish to a survivable depth before being released. Please see the LDWF barotrauma website for more information. Federal regulations require that anglers have a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use while fishing for reef fish in federal waters.

Visit the 2026 Red Snapper season webpage for detailed landing estimates.