Texas offshore anglers, brace yourselves – we have fantastic news! The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) announced on November 4, 2025, that the recreational Red Snapper season in federal waters will last until November 21, 2025.
While season closures usually aren’t cause for celebration, this one absolutely is. But what makes this year’s season stand out?
Why is the 2025 federal Red Snapper season special?
For starters, the 2025 season is much longer than last year’s. The 2024 federal season in Texas closed on September 6, so this year rewards anglers with over two additional months of Red Snapper fishing. But there’s more.
November 21 will mark the longest-running Red Snapper season in federal waters since 2007! This year, anglers will enjoy a record-breaking 173 days of back-breaking action. That’s nearly six full months of going after the biggest and meanest Red Snappers in the Gulf.
And it’s not over yet! You still have more than two weeks to land that brag-worthy catch. The most impressive specimens are found in deep offshore waters, so this is your chance to reel in a true trophy before the season is officially over.
What’s the secret behind this historic season?
This record-breaking season didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of hard work and admirable dedication by regional fisheries management.
Robin Riechers, the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Director, proudly called this season a milestone. He said that it was proof that regional management was doing a great job of providing greater benefits and better fishing opportunities for Texans.
And he’s right. Were it not for their continuous effort to measure and monitor Red Snappers closely to curb overfishing and maintain a healthy population, we probably wouldn’t have such a long season this year.
Thanks to that commitment, Texas anglers get to enjoy the extended season without compromising sustainability.
Who can take you fishing in federal waters?
It’s important to know that not every for-hire vessel can fish in federal waters. Only captains with federal permits are authorized to take you beyond the state waters. So, if you’ve set your mind on catching those far offshore Red Snappers, make sure you book a charter with a proper license.
FishingBooker pays special attention to this. Every charter on our platform that has a license to fish in federal waters has a green “Federally permitted” badge clearly visible for you to see.
What about the state Red Snapper season?
After the federal Red Snapper season closure on November 21, 2025, the state season will continue to run until the harvest quota is met. You’ll still be able to keep four Red Snappers per day with a minimum size of 16 inches.
As a reminder, the first 9 nautical miles offshore are under the state’s jurisdiction and are considered state waters. Once you move further out, you hit federal waters. So, there promises to be plenty of action once the federal season is over, just focused on slightly smaller specimens closer to shore.
How do you feel about this record-breaking Red Snapper season? Will you seize the opportunity for one last cast before the season closes on November 21? Reach out in the comments below!
