On June 6, NOAA Fisheries finalized the new catch quotas for South Atlantic Red Snapper and announced the commercial and recreational seasons for 2025. In the same announcement, they also withdrew the previously proposed ban on bottom fishing, which would have brought a complete closure of the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper fishery for 3 months.
NOAA Fisheries has long worked on curbing the overfishing of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic. The latest assessment indicates that the fishery is not overfished but is undergoing overfishing, and that it has not yet been fully rebuilt. In simple terms, the Red Snapper season isn’t likely to get significantly longer in these waters any time soon.
However, a positive sign from the NOAA is that there will be no discard reduction season. This means there will be no widespread bottom fishing ban in the South Atlantic. The proposal to introduce a discard reduction season was arguably the most controversial measure under consideration. It was subject to extensive opposition during the public comment period preceding the final rule.
With the bottom fishing ban shelved, NOAA Fisheries plans to wait for the new Red Snapper stock assessment to finish. When it’s complete, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will have fresh data on the state of these fish. Following that, we’ll likely see the council propose new management strategies and measures.
As for the recreational Red Snapper season in the South Atlantic, it will last for 2 days. It starts at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 11, 2025, through 12:01 a.m. on July 13, 2025. Although the season is still really short, South Atlantic anglers will get an additional day to fish for Red Snapper this year compared to 2024. If you’re keen on getting in on the action while the fishing is open, check some available charters right here.
How do you feel about the current measures for Red Snapper fishing in the South Atlantic? Do you think we’ll see the seasons get longer in years to come? Let us know in the comments below.
