What/When:
The 2024 red snapper fishing season for vessels with a federal for-hire reef fish permit is 88 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
- The season for federally-permitted for-hire reef fish vessels will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2024, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 28, 2024.
- Private Anglers Note: Each Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) state will set the private angling season for state and federal waters. Please check with your state agency for specific dates.
How the Season Was Determined:
- The red snapper total recreational quota is 7,991,900 pounds whole weight. The private angling component is allocated 57.7% and the for-hire component is allocated 42.3% of the quota.
- For the federal for-hire component:
- The 2024 quota for the federal for-hire component is 3,380,574 pounds whole weight.
- The annual catch target for the federal for-hire component is 3,076,322 pounds whole weight, which is 91% of the quota.
- The number of days for the federal for-hire component to harvest its annual catch target was projected using recent catch rates and average weights of landed fish.
Regulations for Fishing in Federal Waters:
- Vessels with a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish:
- Persons aboard a federally-permitted for-hire reef fish vessel cannot fish for or possess red snapper in federal or state waters when the federal for-hire season is closed.
- If the federal permit is transferred off the vessel, persons aboard the vessel cannot, at any time during that fishing year, fish for or possess red snapper in federal waters when the federal for-hire season is closed.
- These restrictions apply even if the vessel is not acting as a charter vessel; for example, the captain is taking his or her family fishing.
- These restrictions apply regardless of any other permit on the vessel.
- Relevant regulations: 50 CRF 622.39(c) and 622.41(q)(2)(iii)(B). These regulations can be viewed at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622.
- Regulations regarding state licensed for-hire vessels without a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish:
- The delegation of management to the Gulf states for the red snapper private angling component does not allow for-hire vessels to fish for or possess red snapper in or from federal waters without a federal for-hire permit.
- Please see state regulations relative to fishing for red snapper in state waters.
- Regulations regarding vessels with a Federal Gulf Commercial Reef Fish Permit:
- Persons aboard the vessel can recreationally fish for red snapper when the private angling season is open if they declare they are recreationally fishing when they hail out through the vessel monitoring system or call-in system.
- This does not apply if the vessel also has a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish (see above).
- While on a recreational trip, each person aboard is restricted to the bag limit, no commercial quantities of any reef fish species can be on board, and the fish may not be sold.
- Relevant regulations: 50 CFR 622.39(b), 622.28(e), 622.38(a)(2). These regulations can be viewed at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622.
- Persons aboard the vessel can recreationally fish for red snapper when the private angling season is open if they declare they are recreationally fishing when they hail out through the vessel monitoring system or call-in system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quotas and annual catch targets for 2024?
- The quota for red snapper in the Gulf combined for the commercial and recreational sectors is 16.31 million pounds whole weight. The recreational sector is allocated 49% of that total, which is 7,991,900 pounds whole weight. The federal for-hire component is allocated 42.3% of the recreational sector quota, or 3,380,574 pounds whole weight.
- The federal for-hire annual catch target is 91% of its quota, or 3,076,322 pounds whole weight (same as 2023). This buffer helps minimize the potential for a quota overage.
Sector or Component | 2024 quota* (pounds whole weight) | 2024 Annual Catch Target (pounds whole weight) |
| All Recreational | 7,991,900 | n/a |
| Federal for-hire | 3,380,574 | 3,076,322 |
| Private angling | 4,345,042 | 3,689,061 |
How is the red snapper season length for the for-hire sector determined?
- The season is set based on the annual catch target.
- In setting the season, daily catch rates are assumed to be the same as in recent years.
- Based on the daily catch rate from 2023, the red snapper season length for the federally-permitted for-hire sector will increase from 85 days in 2023 to 88 days in 2024.
Where can I find more information on red snapper management in the Gulf?
- For more information on red snapper management, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing/gulf-mexico-recreational-red-snapper-management.
- For more information on state management of red snapper, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-50a-f-state-management-program-recreational-red-snapper.
- For more information on the red snapper quotas and annual catch targets, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/framework-action-fishery-management-plan-reef-fish-resources-gulf-mexico-modification.
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries-Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida, now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
