Private recreational harvest of red snapper is currently closed. However, the for-hire harvest lasts until 12:01 am on August 25.
Alabama’s private recreational anglers will be able to catch and keep the state’s premier reef fish, red snapper, starting June 1. The season will be open until the state’s snapper quota is reached and will consist of four-day weekends (Friday through Monday) and last until the private angler quota is met.
The 2023 private recreational season will be similar to last year’s, with snapper fishing allowed from Friday through Monday after opening day until the quota is met. NOAA Fisheries set the private angler quota for this year at 558,200 pounds due to concerns about the difference between state and federal harvest landing systems. However, DCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship states, "We are still pursuing other options to increase the quota. Anglers should have ample opportunities to enjoy our great red snapper resources off the Alabama coast.”
The season dates only apply to anglers fishing from shore, private recreational vessels, and state-licensed Alabama commercial party boats that do not hold federal for-hire fishing permits.
Alabama’s charter boat fleet is not governed by the state management plan and abides by federal regulations. The 2023 red snapper fishing season for vessels with a federal for-hire reef fish permit is 85 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It opens at 12:01 am CT on June 1, 2023, and closes at 12:01 am on August 25, 2023.
The daily bag limit will remain at two red snappers per person per day, with a minimum size limit of 16 inches in total length.
Anglers 16 years of age and older must have an Alabama saltwater fishing license (resident or non-resident, annual or trip), and any Alabama resident 65 or older or a lifetime saltwater license holder must have a current saltwater angler registration.
All anglers 16 years of age and older who possess gulf reef fish, including red snapper, must have an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement. Anglers under the age of 16 are not required to be licensed, possess an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement or have saltwater angler registration, but their catch must be included in a landing report.
All vessels fishing for reef fish in federal waters are required to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to use. The use of a venting tool or descending device helps the fish deal with barotrauma or a rapid change in pressure by being reeled to the surface from deeper water. The venting tool releases the pressure in the fish’s swim bladder, allowing it to descend naturally. A descending device lowers the fish back to the reef area and releases the fish at depth.
To learn more about this year's red snapper season, visit Outdoor Alabama.
Grab your rod and head to Alabama's beautiful beaches this year to catch red snapper!
