Florida’s Atlantic Coast could see its longest red snapper season in more than 15 years if federal regulators approve a proposal to shift management of the fishery to the state.

According to a Feb. 12 article by Action News JAX, Florida and three other Southern states have petitioned the federal government to test state-led management of Atlantic red snapper. If approved, Florida’s plan would establish a 30-day season beginning in May, followed by three additional three-day openings in the fall. This would be a significant expansion compared to the short, highly restricted season anglers have faced for nearly two decades.

Charter captain Adam Petnuch of Reel Dream Fishing Charter in St. Augustine told Action News he has fished the South Atlantic for more than a decade and have never seen a full-length red snapper season.

“It’s a very good eating fish and the thing about it is the abundance. It is such an abundant source of fish for us over here,” Petnuch said.

For years, federal management has limited recreational Atlantic red snapper harvests to brief openings, sometimes just a few days. “They all try to rush out there for that one day, and it’s just not safe,” Petnuch said.

Northeast Florida Congressman John Rutherford, R-Florida, has pushed for a longer Atlantic season, citing economic impacts. The state's recreational sector accounts for $13.0 billion annually and supports roughly 120,000 jobs. In Florida alone, $14.4 million was generated by the commercial red snapper sector in 2024.

The recreational season directly dictates the commercial season by reducing the total allowable catch, often leading to very short, tightly managed seasons for both recreational and commercial fisheries.

Future seasons could expand even further potentially reaching 90 to 110 days, similar to those in the Gulf of America.

Patnuch said, “It’s our resource anyways. What’s being caught and managed off of our waters off the State of Florida, we should be managing that.”