SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -

Fishermen, listen up!

2026 could mean big changes for red snapper!

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council heard a proposal Wednesday on a new three-year pilot plan to expand Georgia’s recreational red snapper fishing season.

Georgia along with the Carolinas and Florida are also asking that control over the red snapper fishery be transferred from the federal level to the states.

Each state has submitted their own Exempted Fishing Permit Request to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick for approval.

“It’s the American red snapper. It is the iconic demersal snapper fish that anglers just love.”

Red snapper have been under strict federal regulation since 2010 to allow their population to bounce back from overfishing.

For the past 15 years, the rec

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