Florida Gulf red snapper gets eight more days, Oct. 9–22 continuous

Florida added eight harvest days to the 2026 Gulf private recreational red snapper season. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the extra time keeps harvest open straight through Oct. 9–22, so Gulf anglers and the Atlantic coast’s exempted-permit window are on the same calendar.

The rest of the season is the schedule already announced, with weekends and holidays still on the board. Consecutive days already running are Sept. 23 through Oct. 4. After the Oct. 9–22 block come Oct. 23–25 and Oct. 30–Nov. 1, then Nov. 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22. Thanksgiving is Nov. 26–29. December weekends are Dec. 5–6, 12–13, and 19–20, plus Christmas Dec. 25–27. The calendar finishes Jan. 1–4, 2027.

Those days cover recreational anglers on private vessels in Florida Gulf state and federal waters. Charter boats without a federal for-hire permit can fish the season too, but only in Florida Gulf state waters. This is an add-on to the Gulf fall season, not a new Atlantic opening. Check the live FWC reef-fish table before you leave the dock.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: FWC — Additional harvest days for the 2026 Gulf private recreational red snapper season (Sept. 23, 2026).