The Red Snapper season is almost here! All Gulf states have now announced their 2025 Red Snapper season dates. If you’re one of the anglers ready to haul in these delicious bottom fish, you’re in for a treat.

The federal Red Snapper season for 2025 in the Gulf of Mexico starts on June 1 and is scheduled to stay open through September 15.

State Red Snapper Seasons in 2025

• Florida Red Snapper Season 2025: The Sunshine State announced a record 126-day Red Snapper season for 2025. The summer season will open on Memorial Day Weekend, from May 24 to 26, and continue from June 1 through July 31. A fall season has also been announced, running from September 1– 15, and then on every weekend until the end of the year (including additional days around holidays.
• Alabama Red Snapper Season 2025: You can fish for Red Snapper in Alabama seven days a week from Friday, May 23, until Monday, June 30. If the quota is not met by then, the season will continue with four-day weekends starting on July 4th.
• Mississippi Red Snapper Season 2025: This year’s Mississippi Red Snapper season will start on May 23 and end on July 6.
• Louisiana Red Snapper Season 2025: The season starts on Thursday, May 1, in both state and federal waters for private recreational anglers and in state waters only for for-hire charter vessels. The Red Snapper season will be open seven days a week until the quota is reached.
• Texas Red Snapper Season 2025: State waters are open throughout the year.

Bag and Size Limits in each State for 2025

As you just saw, every state has different dates for when you can catch Red Snapper. These seasons apply to private anglers and anglers fishing from licensed for-hire charters fishing in the state waters. The daily bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch minimum length. The only exceptions are Texas and Louisiana, which both have fish limits of four. The minimum length is 15 inches in Texas and 16 inches in Louisiana.

Once a state reaches the quota, the season will close. But, there is also a chance that the state will extend the season if the estimated quotas aren’t reached. Fingers crossed!

2025 Red Snapper Season in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters

The official federal Red Snapper dates for 2025 are upon us! Anglers will be able to fish the federal waters as of June 1.

Only charters with a federal permit can fish federal Red Snapper fisheries, so make sure the charter you choose has this permit. Remember that when you’re going on a recreational trip, you still need to follow the bag limits of two fish per person – at least 16 inches.

2025 South Atlantic Red Snapper Season

There’s a significant difference in how Red Snapper are regulated in the South Atlantic compared to the Gulf. The seasons in the South Atlantic are typically really short, with recreational anglers only getting small windows each year to harvest Red Snapper.

In 2025, the South Atlantic Red Snapper recreational season starts at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 11, 2025, and it will last through 12:01 a.m. on July 13, 2025. So if you’re in the area, make sure to use the 2 days to catch your fill of these wonderful fish, as the season will remain closed until the next announcement after that.

State vs Federal Waters: A Quick Summary

Before we jump into planning, it’s worth quickly explaining the difference between state and federal-water seasons. In the Gulf of Mexico, every state is in charge of the first nine nautical miles of sea. After that, you hit Federal waters.

Why does this matter? Simply put, the biggest fish often live in Federal waters. On top of that, Federal reef fishing permits are in very short supply in the Gulf, so finding a captain that’s federally licensed can be tough – especially during Snapper season! Don’t worry, you can still catch your fill in State waters in many places.

All that’s left to do now is figure out where exactly you want to go. Let’s dive into some of the best spots to visit for Red Snapper fishing.

Where and How to Go Fishing for Red Snapper

Before we reveal the best Red Snapper fishing hubs, here’s a complete guide on how to fish for Red Snappers.

Now that you know how to land them, let’s see where you should do that. If you want to snatch a tasty Snapper or two, there are some places that you simply have to visit. Our favorites are Galveston, Orange Beach, Destin, and Panama City Beach. They live all around the Gulf, though, so you can find a charter near you wherever you are!

Let’s have a closer look at each of the five US Gulf States:

Florida

If you want sunny days and great fishing, come here for a weekend. Or even better, extend your stay! There are endless fishing opportunities in the Florida Panhandle. There’s the capital of fishing, Destin, followed by Panama City Beach, Fort Walton Beach, and Pensacola.