The private recreational angler red snapper season in federal water opens June 1 with new federal regulations via the DESCEND Act now in effect as of January 2022.

The DESCEND Act requires all commercial and recreational anglers to possess a venting tool or a rigged descending device on their boat while fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Research shows that properly releasing reef fish reduces mortality for reef fish species like red snapper.”

Red snapper fishing is open year around in state waters. Bag and size limits will remain unchanged. The regulations are two fish per person daily with a 16-inch minimum size limit in federal waters. State waters limit fish to four per person daily with a 15-inch minimum. Red snapper caught in federal waters count as part of the state bag limit of four fish. No more than two red snapper in federal waters and four red snapper in state waters may be in an angler’s possession while fishing.

Since 2018, the National Marine Fisheries Service has granted TPWD the authority to establish the opening and closing of the red snapper fishery in federal waters off the Texas coast for private recreational anglers fishing from their own vessels. However, Texas must close the fishery when the state’s allotted poundage is reached. The federally permitted for-hire sector continues to be managed in its current structure set by the federal government.

The public will receive notification of the private recreational season closing date by the Coastal Fisheries Division before the state reaches its allotted catch limit. Communication will come via TPWD’s Outdoor Annual, website and social media accounts.