Not sure which category this fits into.
A. Better to beg forgiveness than seek permission.
B. Calculated assumption.
C. Power play.
Whatever, it had the feel of an Emancipation Day for offshore anglers on Florida’s East Coast when Gov. Ron DeSantis visited a Fernandina Beach marina Monday to deliver long-awaited good news on red snapper.
Maybe not good news for the snapper, but definitely good for those who prefer to keep them instead of tossing them back to the sharks — assuming a shark didn’t bite off its share on the way to the boat.
The governor announced a very-much extended 2026 “season” for red snapper, similar to the one used off Florida’s Gulf Coast. It will be broken into two segments — early summer and fall, for a total of 39 days.
■ May 22 (Memorial Day weekend) through June 20.
■ Three long weekends in October: 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18.
For a decade, fishing for red snapper off our Atlantic Coast has been governed by the feds (NOAA and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council) and governed sternly. Generally between just one and three days per year, on one specific weekend, which created quite a mad rush at the local ramps and outbound inlet lane.
The Gulf waters, however, are governed by the states and enjoy quite an open season — it was 126 days this year.
Eventually, Gov. DeSantis’ announcement needs the thumbs-up from NOAA and its National Marine Fisheries Service, and those agencies fall under the watch of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick.
So the correct answer to the above question initially looked like A or C, but it turns out to be B — calculated assumption.
“I’ve spoken both with President Trump as well as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and the encouraging thing is they’re receptive to this and they support us being able to move ahead with what we’re doing,” DeSantis said Monday.
“There’s a lot of people throughout Northeast Florida that really have been waiting for this for a long time.”
Here comes one now!
“I think, overall, this is great,” says Capt. Scott Housel, who operates his Sudden Strike charter off the local coastline. “It does a couple of things.
“It spreads out the times when people go fishing. It won’t create a madhouse for those two days, which stretches thin the limits of the FWC, Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Department. And in terms of fish population, there are plenty of red snapper, and people know where to find them. It’s not gonna hurt the population.”
However, Housel says he hopes to see tight bag limits (no more than two per angler) and a legal slot-size of, say, mid-20s to 30 inches.
“That’s a 10-to-15-pound fish and that’s plenty,” he says.
More details to come, of course, after the official go-ahead winds its way to and from a desk in D.C.
Halifax/Indian River
Slow your roll, bub.
Or, in this case, your retrieval. Just as it’s harder for you to get the joints moving in cold weather, Mr. Fish ain’t exactly springing into action right now, no matter the morsel you’re employing for temptation.
“It’s time to finesse,” says Capt. Billy Pettigrew (RedfishTails.com). “When a drop in the water temp happens, the fish will change their attitude and diet.”
Along with shrimp and other shell-covered baits, cut-bait is a smart option right now, according to the good cap’n.
“Use something they don’t have to chase down to eat,” says Capt. Billy. “Fish the oyster bars, drop-offs and sunny banks. I like to throw shrimp-like lures and use a slower retrieve — up and down, bouncing on the bottom, instead of fast and steady or erratic.”
Up and down the intracoastal, from Granada Bait Shop in Ormond Beach to Ponce Inlet and on down to Southeast Volusia (SeVo!), you can’t have a fishing conversation without black drum being mentioned.
And as often happens, the sheepshead are joining the fun.
“It sounds like a lot of people have been targeting them around the bridges after the colder weather moved in,” says Capt. Jeff Patterson (Pole Dancer charter).
Capt. Jeff recommends the sheepshead’s favorite — a sandflea — on a bottom-sweeper jig. Fresh-dead shrimp or hunk of blue crab for the drum.
Also, the stone crab season has gotten off to an abundant start.
“We’ve had a record start with a limit of two gallons on the first two pulls,” Capt. Jeff says.
Surf
Along with an occasional black drum (they’re everywhere!), the pompano run was beginning to hit stride before our early-week cold blast. The seaweed has subsided, the winds are more reasonable, and the run should return to the southbound lanes with gusto.
Or so our resident sentry suggests.
“It’s gonna be good,” promises Marco Pompano. “There are lots and lots of fishermen on the beach. It’s a great time of year and the end of the week looks like light winds and perfect conditions.”
Trust but verify, they say. Well, whaddaya know, he’s right: Friday and Saturday winds are down to the 5 mph range, with a slight uptick Sunday before a dial-down into next week.
Go get ’em.
Chris Mansfield, of Reel Healin’ Outdoors, took a group out on their first surf-fishing adventure and loaded up on a variety of catches. Along with whiting and catfish, they brought in sea robins and a whole bunch of bonnet-head sharks.
“They weren’t monsters, but when it’s your first shark ever, it’s unforgettable,” Chris says.
St. Johns
While waiting on the water temps and levels to meet the preferences of largemouth bass, speckled perch (crappie) are still carrying the load throughout the St. Johns and its lakes.
“Speck fishing has been up and down in Lake Woodruff with the cold front, but we’re seeing an average of 10-15 fish being brought in,” Capt. Ronnie Paige says from his vantage point at Highland Park Fish Camp. “The bass are biting, but it’s a little slow with the water being so high.”
Don McCormick has put down the hunting gear and re-introduced himself to the water, where he’s finding specks between Lakes Beresford and Woodruff.
“Trolling is the best method right now,” he says. “I caught my limit (25) Monday fishing Woodruff out of Highland Park.”
Hook, line and clicker: Send us your fish pics
We want to see your most recent catch. Email your fish photos to ken.willis@news-jrnl.com.
Please include first and last name of angler(s), as well as type of fish (we’re occasionally stumped). Some may be used in print, but all appear in the online version of the fishing roundup.
Do I need a fishing license?
You can find all the license info, including exemptions, on Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission website: MyFWC.com. But the basics are: No: If you’re 65 or older, 15 or younger, you don’t need a license. “Probably” Not: If you’re fishing with a licensed guide or charter boat, both of which often purchase commercial licenses that cover their customers. Yes: Most everyone else, including visitors from other states. Yes: Even if you’re a shore-based angler (shoreline, dock, pier, bridge, etc.), and even if fishing with a shore-based guide. However: The shore-based license is free . . . But: You still need to register for that free license.
Where do I get a license and what does it cost?
Many bait shops sell licenses, as do the bigger retailers (Bass, Dick’s, Walmart, etc.). Florida’s FWC uses a third-party site for buying or renewing fishing licenses: GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. The cost: $17 for an annual license. Don’t forget: Whether you’re fishing fresh or saltwater, you need the specific license. Freshwater and saltwater licenses are both $17 annually.
I’m here on vacation, do I need a license?
Yes you do, and they’re also available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or certain bait shops and big retailers. Cost: $17 for three days, $30 for seven days, $47 for a year. Also: Non-residents need to purchase that license even if they’re just fishing from shoreline or shore-based structures. (Florida residents need that license, too, but they’re free.)
■ Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Red snapper relief is on way for Florida offshore Atlantic anglers; From 2 days to 39
Reporting by Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
