2025 Federal For-Hire Red Snapper Season Guidelines
As a federally permitted vessel, this is where you can fish during the federal for-hire season:
- June thru July: Federal and State Waters
- August: Federal Waters ONLY
- September 1–14: Federal and State Waters
- September 15: Federal Waters ONLY
2025 Federal For-Hire Season:
June 1st thru the end of the day September 15th.
Important Note on Transiting State Waters:
When transiting state waters in possession of Red Snapper, there are a few important regulations to follow. The law states that if you are in possession of any fish that is legal in federal waters but closed or prohibited in state waters, you must stow all fishing gear while transiting through state waters back to your port.
Florida Administrative Code 68B-14.006:
(1) Possession of any fish in excess of any applicable bag limit or smaller than any minimum size limit established by this chapter by any person aboard a vessel fishing in state waters constitutes a violation of this chapter. Vessels for-hire that possess aboard the vessel a valid federal Gulf of Mexico Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish pursuant to 50 C.F.R. §622.20(b), while fishing for other species in or on state waters, may be in possession of red snapper that were legally harvested in adjacent EEZ waters during the federal season for recreational harvest by the federal for-hire component established by the National Marine Fisheries Service and published in the Federal Register.
