PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the 2023 Gulf red snapper recreational season will be expanded from 57 to 70 days, the longest season since the state assumed management of red snapper. The season will include both a summer and fall season.
The 46-day summer season will begin on June 16 and continue through July 31. The fall season will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October and November.
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See fall season dates below:
- October 6–8
- October 13–15
- October 20–22
- October 27–29
- November 3–5
- November 10–12 (Veterans Day Weekend)
- November 17–19
- November 24–26 (Weekend after Thanksgiving)
“This is something that feeds into the restaurants and the economy and all that, but it’s also just a great tradition,” DeSantis said. “This is something that families have done for many, many years.”
If you plan to fish for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from fishing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
DeSantis said the fishing industry brings in an estimated $14 billion to the state economy and 120,000 jobs.
DeSantis also announced he would be approving $17 million in budget to support continued oyster restoration efforts in Apalachicola Bay.
