NOAA Fisheries has announced the 2026 gag recreational season in federal Gulf waters, opening September 1 and closing October 1, 2026. The closure is projected when the recreational annual catch target of 399,000 pounds is met. During closure, bag and possession limits are zero for gag in federal and Gulf state waters for federally permitted vessels.
Georgia DNR's Coastal Resources Division is proposing new red drum regulations to rebuild the overfished South Atlantic stock. The changes would reduce the daily creel limit from five to three fish and adjust the size limit from 14–23 inches to 15–24 inches. Public comments are accepted through June 30, 2026, with the Board of Natural Resources voting on August 25, 2026.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana State University are in their third season of collaborative research on trout recruitment, health, and mortality in the upper Jefferson River basin. Spring population estimates for the Big Hole River show improved brown trout abundances in the Jerry Creek section and increased rainbow trout in the Pennington section, while FWP and MSU continue tagging studies and partner with Montana Trout Unlimited to reward anglers reporting tagged fish.
Georgia's Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division launched GeorgiaRedSnapper.com to guide anglers through the Georgia Red Snapper Project season running July 1 through August 31, 2026. The website provides participation requirements, VESL reporting platform instructions, and regulations for the expanded two-month red snapper season in federal waters.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources successfully collected 4.2 million steelhead eggs despite a lightning strike damaging the Little Manistee River Weir facility. The DNR deployed the Lower Platte River Weir as a backup source for the first time, with nearly 2.2 million eggs collected at Little Manistee and approximately 2 million at Platte River weirs.
Paddlefish seasons on the lower Yellowstone River (yellow tag) and Missouri River downstream of Fort Peck Dam (green tag) open May 15 and run through June 15. Anglers should review FWP regulations for specific restrictions on each river section.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources issued emergency changes increasing daily fishing limits at Crouse Reservoir and Nine Mile Reservoir due to drought and low water levels. DWR Director Riley Peck raised limits to eight trout at Crouse Reservoir and 16 trout at Nine Mile Reservoir to encourage harvest and improve survival of remaining fish.
NOAA Fisheries will distribute 279,590 pounds of withheld shallow-water grouper quota to IFQ shareholders on May 12, 2026, because final regulations implementing the SWG Framework were not completed by the June 1 deadline. The total quota for 2026 will be 525,000 pounds gutted weight.
The Gulf Council will hold a three-day meeting at The Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore from June 1-3, 2026, with public comment on June 3. The Council will take final action on Reef Fish Amendment 63 regarding red grouper commercial quota pools and discuss shrimp bycatch methodology, for-hire data collection, and various snapper and grouper management measures.
Michigan's walleye possession season opens May 15 on Upper Peninsula inland waters. Lake Independence and Teal Lake in Marquette County now have protected slot limits requiring anglers to release walleye smaller than 15 inches and those between 18-23 inches, with a daily possession limit of five fish.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's inaugural Arkansas Legacy Lunker program has produced eighteen largemouth bass over 10 pounds at the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery. These females are being bred with Titan Maxx bass from Red Hills Fishery in Georgia to enhance genetics in Arkansas waters, with the first official stocking planned for late May or early June.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is seeking public input on a proposed renovation of Lake Atkins, which has experienced declining productivity in recent years. Fisheries supervisor Frank Leone explains the drawdown would remove undesirable yellow bass, improve habitat, and restock the lake with Florida bass, crappie, and other species. Survey responses are being collected through May 15.
NOAA Fisheries announces federal waters 9 to 200 nautical miles off Texas will close to shrimp trawling on May 15, 2026, aligning with Texas state waters closure. The annual closure allows brown shrimp to reach larger, more valuable sizes and prevents waste from discarding undersized shrimp.
The National Marine Fisheries Service approved exempted fishing permits for red snapper in the South Atlantic from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation supported the approval, which will expand recreational red snapper seasons from days to months in federal waters and advance conservation and fisheries management.
The Gulf Council is seeking input from fishermen and constituents about ecosystem issues affecting Gulf fisheries, including environmental problems, habitat concerns, and species interactions. Responses submitted through the Fisherman Feedback Tool will inform the development of the Gulf Fishery Ecosystem Plan by the May 31, 2026 deadline.
President Trump approved exempted fishing permits for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina to advance state-led red snapper management and expand recreational access in 2026. The permits will test improved data collection strategies through pilot programs, with Florida implementing a 39-day season and the other three states coordinating a 62-day season using a Yamaha-funded app.
Georgia's Department of Natural Resources announced the Georgia Red Snapper Project, expanding recreational fishing opportunities with a two-month season in July and August 2026. The federal Exempted Fishing Permit, supported by a $300,000 Yamaha Rightwaters grant, requires mandatory trip registration and catch reporting through a mobile app to improve data collection for sustainable management.
Grey Bear Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River will restrict boat ramp and parking access starting March 30 for construction improvements including overflow parking, walking trails, and facility upgrades. Work is anticipated to complete by May 21, with watercraft take-out prohibited during construction.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources research vessel RV Lake Char will launch spring surveys from Marquette to conduct essential lake trout research across Lake Superior's nearshore areas. Led by fisheries research biologist Shawn Sitar, the surveys collect critical population data that informs long-term fisheries management and supports co-management with tribal governments.
Windmill State Recreation Area completed a major Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project improving fishing access and habitat across five lakes. Improvements include ADA-compliant fishing piers, shoreline access enhancements, habitat structures, and a new floodway. Funding came from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Aquatic Habitat Program, Capital Maintenance Funds, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.