Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Alabama’s red snapper season opened May 23 for private anglers and commercial party boats. Federally permitted charter boats joined on June 1. Social media has been filled with photos of red snapper caught off Alabama’s coast.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said private anglers landed 135,193 pounds of red snapper by June 1. The 2025 quota is 664,552 pounds.

University of South Alabama researchers report an estimated 7.6 million snapper, or 19.6 million pounds, in waters up to 350 feet deep along Alabama. Most fish measure at least 10 inches long.

Researchers used two surveys: the long‑running Shipp study from 1998 and a random‑drop ROV survey started in 2011. They spend about 35 days each year in Gulf waters, mapping reefs and counting fish.

The surveys show more red snapper overall, although average fish size has decreased due to fishing. Still, many new fish enter yearly. Total reef weight has stayed steady over recent years.

Alabama began state management in 2017 and received NOAA approval in 2020. Quotas jumped to more than 1.1 million pounds then. This year’s quota of 664,552 pounds is considered sustainable.

Experts say anglers can still catch legal fish. Bigger snapper require deeper waters and better gear. Alabama has about 12,000 artificial reefs covering 1,200 square miles, the world’s largest reef zone, and the fishery remains healthy. 

Information from the Outdoor Alabama Article by Ben Raines.