Why It Matters: July 11th and 12th marked the beginning, and the end, of the 2025 South Atlantic red snapper season. Unfortunately, anglers have been subjected to a federal management model in the South Atlantic that rewards a rapidly rebuilding red snapper population with few red snapper fishing opportunities. A decade ago, anglers faced a similar situation in the Gulf of America (Gulf) red snapper fishery until it reached the infection point of highly frustrated anglers, states, and policy makers. The result of that perfect storm was the transition to a highly successful model of state management of the Gulf recreational red snapper fishery. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been encouraging a similar path in the South Atlantic since the Gulf Council officially implemented state management in 2020.
Highlights:
- Over the last decade, red snapper populations in the South Atlantic have rebounded faster than anyone expected, while access for recreational anglers has been severely limited or non-existent.
- Recently, the South Atlantic states sent a letter to Members of the Congressional South Atlantic Red Snapper Task force that lays out their plan to get out of the current management paradox.
Early last week, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina sent a joint letter to the Co-Chairs of the Congressional South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force that provided an outline of a plan to transition recreational red snapper management to the states. This is a significant first step in providing more access to a sustainable red snapper fishery in the South Atlantic, which has been a top priority for CSF and the recreational fishing community since the same, highly successful state management approach was implemented for red snapper in the Gulf in 2020.
Despite the highest red snapper population abundance ever recorded, the 2025 season in the South Atlantic was measured in mere hours. Whereas, in the Gulf, many state red snapper seasons have been open for months and remain open today. The underlying reason for the highly disparate season structures rests with the recreational landings data between the two regions. Recreational anglers in the Gulf were facing a similar melting point not too long ago, so each state took charge and began developing their own recreational data collection program to supplement or replace MRIP, which was never intended for in-season management. The South Atlantic states are now proposing a similar path, beginning with developing, testing, or improving existing state data collection programs.
“Since going from red snapper seasons measured in days to seasons measured in months in the Gulf, we have been hopeful that the South Atlantic states would embrace a similar path and develop their own, more reliable recreational data collection programs,” said Chris Horton, Senior Director of Fisheries Policy for CSF. “We are very thankful to see that the South Atlantic states are taking the reins on behalf of both their anglers and better science, which will ensure future fisheries sustainability while providing appropriate access for the recreational community.”
Concurrently with the development of state recreational catch data collection programs through exempted fishing permits (EFP’s) over the next three years, the states propose working through the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council on an amendment to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan to implement state management of the recreational sector following the completion of the EFP’s. A very similar approach was undertaken by the Gulf states that led to the successful implementation of red snapper state management in 2020.
CSF greatly appreciates the leadership of the South Atlantic states in stepping up to the plate to find a better path forward for red snapper management in the region. We stand ready and willing to help through the Council process and through any necessary Congressional action to ensure their success.
