South Atlantic Red Snapper Fair Access Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill would stop commercial fishing and sales of red snapper in the South Atlantic whenever recreational fishing is banned. Currently, recreational seasons are often only one or two days long, while commercial seasons can last for weeks or months.
• Scott introduced the bill to create fairness between hobby anglers and professional fishing businesses. The goal is to ensure that if everyday people are kept off the water to protect fish numbers, commercial companies face the same limits.
• The move comes after a federal court stopped several states, including Florida and Georgia, from running their own special fishing programs. Those programs were meant to give recreational fishers more time on the water while collecting better data on fish populations.
• If passed, the law would make it illegal to sell, trade, or buy red snapper caught in federal waters during these closed periods. People who break the law would face the same fines and penalties used for other major fishing violations.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.