NOAA Fisheries is reviewing the 2008 North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule with a public comment deadline of June 2, 2026. Viking Yacht Company and Boating United are urging the recreational boating and fishing community to submit comments advocating for modern technology-based alternatives that balance whale protection with offshore access and vessel safety.

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) announced Dr. Martin Arostegui and Roberta G. Arostegui as the first recipients of the IGFA Master Angler Award, recognizing their lifetime achievements across multiple angler recognition programs. Both have been inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and accumulated world records and trophy fish clubs spanning over four decades.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing announced that Meredith McCord will receive the 2026 Izaak Walton Award, recognizing her pioneering work in global travel angling, advocacy for women in fly fishing, and 220+ International Game Fish Association world records. A celebration will be held November 18, 2026, in Houston, Texas.

Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri has been named America's Best Aquarium for a record eighth time. The 350,000-square-foot facility features 35,000 live animals and 1.5 million gallons of aquariums, and has welcomed nearly 9 million visitors since opening in 2017.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds boaters to designate a sober operator during National Safe Boating Week. According to NASBLA, alcohol causes 1 in 5 boating deaths nationwide, and AZGFD emphasizes that wearing life jackets and following safety protocols are critical for protecting families on Arizona's waterways.

Chef Robbie Nicolaisen of The Hound restaurant in Auburn won the Sweet Grown Alabama Seafood Cook-Off at The Wharf in Orange Beach with his Ember-Roasted Cobia dish, earning a $2,500 prize and a chance to compete in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans this summer.

Manatee County's $17 million restoration of Robinson Preserve, supported by NOAA Fisheries and partners including the RESTORE Council and Mote Marine Laboratory, has generated $32.7 million in economic activity and supports 264 jobs annually. The 700-acre preserve now attracts 240,000 visitors yearly and provides critical nursery habitat for snook and tarpon.

California Trout and Pacific Gas & Electric removed the final fish passage barrier on Alameda Creek with NOAA Fisheries funding, allowing Central California Coast steelhead to reach spawning grounds for the first time in 50 years. The project involved relocating a PG&E natural gas pipeline and restoring 1,800 feet of stream channel, culminating nearly three decades of collaborative restoration efforts by multiple agencies and organizations.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reminds boaters to maintain a 1,000-yard distance from endangered Southern Resident killer whales to protect them during peak boating season. Vessel noise interferes with orcas' echolocation and ability to hunt salmon. Canada has aligned similar protections requiring 1,000 meters distance, effective June 1, 2026.

The Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza hosts its annual Youth Day on July 25 at Port Harbor Marine in South Portland, Maine. The free event features hands-on activities led by University of Maine's Pelagic Fisheries Lab, fish printing demonstrations by Nate Garrett of Big Fish Gyotaku, green crab fishing tournaments, and free lunch provided by Cabela's.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) launched new digital tools on its Ocean Salmon Fishery Information webpage to track recreational and commercial in-season harvests of ocean salmon. The tools allow anglers to monitor catch numbers and remaining salmon under regional harvest guidelines, with recreational catch updates provided twice monthly throughout the season.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife has established special fishing regulations for Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams County through September 7, 2026. Fishing is permitted Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from sunrise to sunset, with specific daily limits for sunfish, largemouth bass, and channel catfish to maintain quality bluegill fishing.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted its largest Eagle Lake rainbow trout rescue in over a decade, returning approximately 5,800 adult fish to Eagle Lake in March and April. The emergency effort involved more than 25 CDFW biologists, hatchery staff, and community volunteers responding to fish at risk of stranding in Pine Creek due to unseasonably warm weather and low snowpack.

Round goby, an invasive species from the Black and Caspian Seas, has spread throughout the Great Lakes and was discovered near the Champlain Canal in 2021. These aggressive fish outcompete native species and prey on sportfish eggs, prompting New York to recommend clean, drain, dry practices and purchasing bait from licensed sellers only.

NOAA Fisheries 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 gutted weight 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, reducing the daily creel limit from five to three fish and adjusting the slot size 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 is recruiting an individual to fill a seat on the Upper Missouri River Fisheries Management Plan Citizen Advisory Committee. The committee provides input on fisheries management for Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter Reservoirs. Applications must be received by June 12, 2026, with contact Nathan Jaksha at 406-495-3263.

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 and increased rainbow trout numbers in some sections, with estimates for other rivers forthcoming.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites anglers to a two-day catfishing clinic on June 6-7 in Blue Springs. Participants will learn alternative fishing methods including trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines for targeting blue, flathead, and channel catfish on the Missouri River.

Vermont's Summer Free Fishing Day on June 13 offers resident and nonresident anglers free fishing without a license. The Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring instruction, fish biology, and trout fishing in a hatchery pond. Vermont's regular bass season also opens June 13.

Seventeen-year-old Jeared Barnett set an Arkansas state record by catching an 18¼-inch skipjack herring in the Ozark Pool on April 9. The fish, weighing 2 pounds, 14 ounces, was officially verified by Chelsea Gilliland, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Large Rivers Biologist, surpassing the previous record held by Gary Brandon Miller.

Wisconsin's Free Fishing Weekend on June 6-7 allows residents and nonresidents to fish without licenses or stamps. The Wisconsin DNR events calendar lists fishing clinics and community events, with nearly 60 tackle loaner sites available statewide for those needing gear.

Washington's Free Fishing Weekend returns June 6–7, allowing residents to fish for many species without a license. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will stock 15.5 million trout and kokanee in over 500 lowland lakes, with opportunities for rainbow trout, bass, rockfish, and other game fish across the state.

Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the annual rainbow trout season at Kōke'e Public Fishing Area on Kaua'i opens June 20, 2026. Anglers may fish daily through September 30 with a seven-fish daily bag limit. The Pu'u Lua Reservoir, where over 95% of catches occur, was stocked with approximately 30,000 young trout in January.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, Kellogg Lake Boards, and Carthage Community Partners will host Kids Free Fishing Day on June 6 from 8 a.m. to noon at Kellogg Lake in Carthage. Children 15 and under can fish for free with no registration required.

Rapala introduces the Floater Elite®, a reimagined version of the Original Floating® lure featuring premium balsa wood, forged through-wire construction, and high-definition metallic patterns. Available in two models with 12 color options, the lure honors Lauri Rapala's 1936 legacy while delivering enhanced durability and performance.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) announced the Hooks and Books program, a partnership with public libraries across Massachusetts providing free access to fishing rod-and-reel kits for loan. Following a successful pilot at Greenfield Public Library, the program is expanding to more than 25 libraries statewide this summer.

Paul Thomas Hoppes, Jr., founder of Sailfish Boats and Seminole Marine, passed away on May 12, 2026. He built his flagship brand from a small warehouse in Havana, Florida into the largest employer in Cairo, Georgia, known for high-quality boats and exceptional industry reputation.

Fish Monkey's merino wool blend socks offer retailers a high-margin accessory category designed for warm-weather fishing. The socks feature moisture-wicking technology, ventilated construction, and targeted cushioning, with Made-in-the-USA production at one of America's oldest sock mills.

Major League Fishing launched the 2026 MLF Bass Pro Shops Z19 Sweepstakes, offering fans daily entry chances to win a Nitro Z19 with 200L Pro XS Mercury package valued at approximately $57,995, plus additional prizes from Rapala, Champion Power Equipment, and BUBBA, with total retail value of $61,528.96.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are partnering to promote safe driving, towing, and boating throughout summer. WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman and DNR Secretary Karen Hyun emphasize the importance of following speed limits, securing cargo, wearing life jackets, and boating sober to prevent crashes and fatalities on Wisconsin's roads and waters.

Huk, the Charleston-founded performance fishing apparel brand, is presenting sponsor of the SFC Carrier Cup at USS Yorktown May 29-31, featuring professional offshore fishing competition and an America 250 Summer Kickoff Concert headlined by Brian Kelley. Huk also launched a limited-edition America 250 Collection celebrating the nation's semiquincentennial.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will launch its modernized electronic licensing system on June 9, replacing a 25-year-old system. The new ELS offers three purchase methods (mobile app, online, in-person) and three ways to carry licenses (paper, PDF, app), with fishing license sales paused June 2-8 during the transition.

Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pennsylvania won the MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake with seven bass weighing 31-3, earning $100,000. He also caught the Berkley Big Bass, a 9-3 largemouth, for an additional $100,000, becoming only the second angler in Heavy Hitters history to earn $200,000 alongside Jordan Lee.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encourages drivers to slow down and report turtle sightings during nesting season from late May through July. The DNR's Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program receives 600-1,000 annual reports to monitor turtle distribution and protect the state's 11 native turtle species from road mortality and illegal pet trade threats.

When a federal judge pressed pause on South Atlantic red snapper fishing last week—May 21, just one day before Florida’s long-awaited recreational season was set to open—it didn’t come out of nowhere. The injunction was the latest chapter in a long-running struggle over how this fishery is managed, who gets access to it, and whether the science driving those decisions matches what anglers and captains see on the water.

But it was totally mishandled by the courts, which created a hardship for the many anglers and guides who had made plans based on what they thought was to be a rare opportunity to fish the Atlantic red snapper population.

Many prospective anglers had already traveled to the coast from Florida to the Carolinas for their brief shot at these tasty reef fish, and many charterboat skippers were counting on a healthy though brief boost to their income.

It was not to be, with the last-minute shutdown blocking recreational angler harvest yet again to what, by most accounts, is a rapidly recovering fish population.

At the center of the dispute are Exempted Fishing Permits, or EFPs, issued by NOAA Fisheries to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Those permits would have allowed each state to run its own recreational red snapper season in federal waters during 2026—and these could have been far longer than the ultra-short federal seasons anglers have endured for more than a decade.

The court’s order temporarily invalidated those permits, keeping the recreational fishery closed while a lawsuit moves forward. Commercial fishing, governed by a separate quota system, was unaffected.

Why the States Sought EFPs

For recreational anglers in the South Atlantic, red snapper management has long felt disconnected from reality. Federal recreational seasons have sometimes lasted only one or two days, despite widespread reports of abundant snapper on offshore reefs and hardbottom. The reason is rooted not in abundance alone, but in data.

Federal managers rely heavily on the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), a survey-based system that estimates catch after it happens. States have argued that MRIP is ill-suited for managing very small quotas, where even minor estimation error can shut down a season almost immediately.

The EFPs were intended to test an alternative. Under the permits, states would extend recreational seasons—Florida planned about 39 days, while Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina aimed for roughly 62 days—while collecting more detailed, state-run harvest data. The idea was not to abandon federal oversight, but to demonstrate that state-level monitoring could allow more access without exceeding conservation limits.

Gulf of Mexico states made a similar transition years ago, replacing chaotic federal seasons with longer, more predictable state-managed openings, and it has worked very well—the fisheries are thriving, coastal communities are again enjoying a bonanza during the red snapper season and anglers are happy. South Atlantic anglers and state managers hoped to follow that path.

The Lawsuit and the Injunction

Commercial fishing interests challenged the EFPs in federal court, arguing that NOAA had exceeded its authority and that the permits risked undermining the red snapper rebuilding plan required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. On May 21, the judge agreed there were serious legal questions and granted a preliminary injunction, halting all fishing conducted under the EFPs.

The ruling did not decide the case on its merits. It simply froze the status quo while the lawsuit proceeds. The timing, however, was brutal: Florida’s season was scheduled to open the next morning.

Commercial vs. Recreational Catch Limits—Clearing Up the Numbers

Under the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan, the commercial annual catch limit is set at 102,951 pounds (whole weight). Commercial landings are tracked in pounds, and once that quota is reached, the fishery closes.

The recreational annual catch limit, by contrast, is set in numbers of fish, not pounds: 22,797 red snapper. NOAA uses fish numbers for recreational management because survey data are more reliable that way. When converted using the average fish weight assumed in the amendment, that recreational allocation equals roughly 263,000 pounds.

In other words, the recreational allocation is larger than the commercial allocation in terms of pounds, even though recreational seasons are often far shorter. That mismatch—more pounds on paper, fewer days on the water—is one of the drivers behind state frustration and the push for EFPs.

What the Science Actually Says

According to the most recent federal stock assessments, South Atlantic red snapper are still classified as overfished and undergoing overfishing, though conditions have improved from historic lows. The species is long-lived, slow-growing, and particularly vulnerable to overharvest of older fish, which produce a disproportionate share of eggs, per researchers.

At the same time, multiple fishery-independent surveys and ongoing research projects suggest red snapper may be far more abundant than earlier models estimated. That gap between modeled abundance and observed abundance is real—but it has not yet been fully resolved in a way that satisfies federal legal standards.

In management terms, the stock appears to be rebuilding slowly, but not fast enough—in the minds of federal fishery managers—to relax safeguards without legal risk. Too lax and they may get fired for ruining the fishery—so naturally they tend to err on the side of restrictions.

Was This Mishandled?

From the states’ perspective, the EFPs were a good-faith attempt to modernize recreational management, improve data quality, and provide meaningful access while staying within total catch limits.

From the plaintiffs’ perspective, NOAA moved too quickly, relying on experimental permits to make what amounted to major policy changes without sufficient analysis or safeguards.

What is clear is that the system failed anglers in the final hours. A season announced, planned, and booked was erased overnight—not because fish suddenly vanished, but because management and law collided.

– Frank Sargeant
frankmako1@gmail.com