Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced that the 2026 private‑angler red snapper season will close at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 16. The decision follows a press release from the agency’s Marine Resources Division (MRD) and is intended to keep the state’s harvest at or below the federal allocation of 664,552 pounds for the year.
Season format and catch size
MRD Director Kevin Anson explained that this year marked the second year the season was run on a seven‑day‑a‑week schedule rather than the traditional weekend‑only format. “The increased access provided by the week‑long format and good weather throughout much of the season resulted in more fishing trips compared to last year,” Anson said. He added that fish sampled from private‑vessel anglers this year were, on average, about three‑quarters of a pound larger than those measured during the 2025 season.
Angler feedback and future plans
“Our sampling this year matches comments from many anglers I spoke with who mentioned that the red snapper they harvested were a little larger than last year but were generally smaller than they would prefer to keep,” Anson noted. He said the agency will continue working to ensure both citizens and visitors have access to the abundant red snapper fishery off Alabama’s coast.
What the closure means for anglers
The private‑angler season includes non‑chartered vessels, shore and pier fishing, as well as state‑licensed charter vessels that do not hold a federal reef‑fish permit. The federally permitted for‑hire charter season already closed on October 26, and a reopening date has not yet been announced by NOAA Fisheries.
Looking ahead to 2027
The 2027 federal allocation is expected to remain at 664,552 pounds unless the final estimated harvest for 2026 exceeds that amount. MRD plans to announce the dates for the 2027 fishing season in the spring.
Additional resources
Red snapper harvest data for the 2024‑2026 seasons can be reviewed at OutdoorAlabama.com. For more information about the ADCNR’s mission and its four divisions—Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries—visit OutdoorAlabama.com.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
