DeSantis announces 140-day long recreational Gulf red snapper season

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the 2026 recreational Gulf red snapper season while in Fort Myers.

During a news conference on Monday, the governor began by saying that the Florida boating and fishing industry outpaces the rest of the country, bringing in roughly $31 billion annually.

DeSantis says the prominence of fishing in the state stems from the accessibility for boaters and Florida's reputation as a recreational boating-friendly state. 

On Monday, the governor announced that the 2026 recreational Gulf red snapper season will last 140 days, a new record for the number of days allowed.

Watch the news conference above.