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On May 21, 2026, a DC District Court Judge’s injunction halted South Carolina’s Exempted Fishing Permit for red snapper, preventing SCDNR from issuing anglers harvest permits for the red snapper fishing season set to begin July 1st. While the injunction will not be resolved in time to implement the EFP, which would have allowed red snapper fishing in July and August, SCDNR remains committed to advancing the goals of the pilot project and intends to submit to NOAA Fisheries a revised red snapper EFP proposal requesting a fall start date. Please stay tuned for further updates as they become available.

This action does not affect red snapper harvest in state waters, where there is no closed season and anglers may keep up to two fish with a minimum size of 20 inches per day.

Proposed 2026 Recreational Season

Fall (dates TBD)

One fish per person, per day

20 inch minimum size

Free exempted fishing permit required and mandatory trip reporting

About

The South Carolina Red Snapper Project is a state-based angler-driven effort to collect better data on red snapper fishing while allowing greater access to the fishery. This is an experiment that relies on cooperation between SCDNR and anglers to document catch and properly manage this important fishery.

Step 1

Obtain a free exempted fishing permit on the GoOutdoorsSC App or at GoOutdoorsSC.com. Anglers must first have a valid SC saltwater fishing license or privilege.

Step 2

After obtaining your permit on GoOutdoorsSC, you will receive an email containing instructions for how to download the free VESL app and create your account.

Step 3

Planning to keep red snapper? Declare your trip in the VESL app. You may declare up to 5 days before a trip. EACH angler planning to keep a red snapper must declare a trip and report their catch.

Step 4

Report your catch on the VESL app within 24 hours of completion. Once an angler has reported for one trip, they may declare additional trips.

 

Why Reporting Matters

Your data provides real-time catch and trip information to fisheries managers and reduces the data uncertainty that contributed to short fishing seasons in the past. This exempted fishing permit is an experiment where anglers directly contribute data that helps managers maintain a healthy fishery. South Carolina’s ability to continue this experiment and provide greater fishing access in the following years relies on the cooperation of our anglers.

Gear Requirements for the snapper/grouper fishery

  • Descending device rigged and ready with at least 60 feet of line and 16+ oz of weight
  • Additionally, anglers fishing under the exempted fishing permit are required to USE their descending device when releasing red snapper that show signs of barotrauma
  • Non-offset, non stainless steel circle hooks
  • Dehooking tool
  • More information is available at Best Fishing Practices - South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Resources

Return 'Em Right

Return 'Em Right is expanding to the South Atlantic and our anglers can get a SeaQualizer setup for the cost of shipping ($12) now if they complete the online training module.

Get a descending device from Return 'Em Right

Questions? Reach out to us at redsnapper@dnr.sc.gov.

FAQ's

What is the purpose of South Carolina’s exempted fishing permit (EFP)?

An exempted fishing permit allows the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to authorize fishing activity that would otherwise be prohibited for specific purposes; in this case, the EFP is to collect data on recreational red snapper fishing. This EFP was approved to better understand the number of recreational red snapper anglers, their fishing effort, and the number of fish, both kept and released. This information has been difficult to obtain accurately under the current data collection system. The red snapper project is an experiment and the success of that experiment and its ability to continue in the future will rely on the cooperation of our anglers.

Who is required to obtain an experimental red snapper harvest permit and report their red snapper catch?

Any recreational angler who intends to keep red snapper in federal waters off South Carolina. Anglers fishing off Georgia or North Carolina will follow similar protocols with some differences. Please refer to the GADNR or NCDMF websites for specifics.

View All FAQs

Partners & Funding

The South Carolina Red Snapper Project is operated by the SCDNR and supported by a grant from Yamaha Rightwaters. Georgia and Florida are collaborating through their own EFP applications.