TSV Roundup Week of February 16th, 2026

Longer red snapper seasons could transform South Atlantic fishing opportunities this year.

Momentum is building for South Atlantic red snapper anglers from Florida to North Carolina. After years of frustrating two-day federal seasons, state-led data collection reforms may finally open the door to significantly expanded access. Florida is requesting a 39-day season, while Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are pursuing up to 62 days through exempted fishing permits and mandatory reporting programs.

The shift mirrors the Gulf of Mexico’s success, where state management and improved recreational fishing data expanded red snapper seasons from just three days to more than 100 days in some states. At the heart of the debate is how catch, release mortality, and discard estimates are calculated in offshore fisheries management. Better, angler-driven reporting could convert estimated dead discards into real harvest opportunity while maintaining sustainable biomass levels.

Beyond saltwater fishing policy, this week covers right to hunt and fish protections in New Hampshire, license reimbursement reform in Mississippi, drone-assisted deer recovery legislation in Iowa and South Dakota, and prescribed fire projects in Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. From White-tailed deer management and elk recovery to forest habitat restoration and conservation funding, these battles shape the future of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors nationwide.

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