Overview
- A set of federal permits, announced Friday, allows Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to run temporary state-managed recreational seasons in Atlantic federal waters.
- Georgia set a July 1–Aug. 31, 2026 window with a one‑fish daily limit, mandatory pre‑trip registration in a free app and catch reports due within 24 hours, supported by a $300,000 Yamaha Rightwaters grant.
- Florida’s plan calls for a 39‑day recreational season this year, a sharp increase from last year’s two‑day window under federal rules.
- NOAA said Monday the exemptions are intended to improve data on recreational catch and help test a path to state‑led management of Atlantic red snapper.
- Environmental groups and some commercial fishers oppose the larger openings, citing a stock rebuilt under strict limits after falling to about 11% of historical abundance and warning of renewed overfishing.