Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Alabama’s 2025 red snapper season has been successful, and it is wrapping up after what state officials describe as a strong year on the water. The Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reports steady fishing and many full coolers. Anglers have enjoyed more access to the popular Gulf fish this year than in years past. Families and visitors alike have been heading offshore to take advantage of the extended season.

The Marine Resources Division will close the state’s 2025 private angler red snapper fishing season at midnight on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Alabama’s 2025 federal allocation for private anglers was 664,552 pounds. That allocation set the limit for how much red snapper could be harvested during the year. The same amount will be available for the 2026 season.

“This was the first year under state management that we opened the red snapper season for seven days a week,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He said most of the season followed this schedule and “it provided maximum access to the fishery for Alabama’s anglers.” In 2025, the recreational red snapper season was open for 196 days. Blankenship said the agency “will continue working to ensure our citizens and visitors have access to the incredible red snapper fishery off the coast of Alabama.”

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Blankenship also described how recent conditions helped anglers finish the year strong. “It has been a very good season as well,” he said. “The seas were calm the past few weekends, and I saw several boats come in with limits of good size red snapper.” He added that “it is great to see families and friends catching red snapper all the way through the end of the year.”

The commissioner even noted that the long season may shape some holiday traditions along the Gulf Coast. “The Feast of the Seven Fishes may include red snapper for some coastal families this year,” Blankenship said. The holiday meal is a Christmas Eve tradition for some families.

Looking ahead, the 2026 red snapper quota will again be 664,552 pounds for Alabama’s private anglers. The Marine Resources Division plans to announce the specific 2026 fishing season dates sometime in the spring. Officials will review harvest data and other factors before setting the schedule.

The red snapper season for federally permitted for-hire charter vessels will also end at midnight on December 31, 2025. That means both private anglers and charter boats are working toward the same year-end deadline. After that time, red snapper harvest under the 2025 allocation must stop.

Red snapper harvest information from the 2023 through 2025 seasons is available online. Anglers and the public can review the landings summary and other details at Outdoor Alabama’s Red Snapper Summary.