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Florida Anglers Can Sidestep Fed Rules with Special Red Snapper Permits
FWC opens applications for exempted fishing permits to allow recreational anglers and charter captains to harvest red snapper outside of federal timelines.
Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:15am
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a program that allows recreational anglers and charter captains to harvest and keep red snapper outside of the usual, often restrictive, federal timelines. In exchange, participants act as 'citizen scientists' and use an FWC app to report their catches and releases, helping to fill in data gaps that lead to short federal red snapper seasons.
Why it matters
This program is a win-win for both the state and the local fishing community. It gives anglers more opportunities to fish for red snapper, while also providing valuable data to help improve federal management of the fishery. By participating, Florida fishermen are helping to prove whether the red snapper fishery is healthier than federal models might suggest.
The details
The FWC is running three different versions of the study depending on location - the 'Hot Spot Fleet' and 'Study Fleet' covering waters from the Georgia border down to Cape Canaveral, and the 'Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet' from the NASA assembly building down to the Dry Tortugas. Anglers can apply for the 'Hot Spot' and 'Southeast Florida' fleets through a lottery system, while the 'Study Fleet' has a more detailed application process. The main focus is testing a 'bag limit' system to see if it reduces the number of fish that die after being caught and released.
- The application window for the third quarter of the program is open from January 30 to February 9, 2026.
- The program first kicked off in 2024, and over 2,000 anglers across Florida have already participated.
The players
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
The state agency that is running the Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) program to allow recreational anglers and charter captains to harvest red snapper outside of federal timelines.
Return 'Em Right
An organization that works to educate anglers on the proper use of descending devices to help reduce mortality of released red snapper.
What’s next
The FWC is running three application windows per year for the EFP program. Anglers interested in securing a spot for the March-through-May window can find more details and tutorial videos on the MyFWC website.
The takeaway
This program demonstrates how state agencies can work collaboratively with the local fishing community to gather valuable data and provide more opportunities for recreational anglers, while still maintaining sustainable management of the red snapper fishery.
