Is red snapper open this weekend in Destin?

Red snapper is open in Gulf state and federal waters on Nov. 7-8, Nov. 14-15, Nov. 21-22 and Nov. 26-29, 2026, for private boats and state-permitted charters, per FWC. The limit is two fish per person, 16 inches minimum.

Can I keep gray triggerfish in November in Florida's Gulf waters?

Yes. Gray triggerfish is open in the Gulf through Dec. 31, 2026, with a 15-inch fork length minimum and one fish per person, per FWC.

Is gag grouper open in the Florida Panhandle in November 2026?

No. Gag grouper closed in Gulf state waters on Oct. 1, 2026, after a September season, and stays closed for the rest of the year, per FWC. Red grouper remains open year-round in state waters with a 20-inch minimum.

What is the redfish limit in the Florida Panhandle?

In FWC's Panhandle region, redfish must measure 18 to 27 inches, with one fish per person per day and four per vessel, open year-round.

Is there a free fishing day in Florida in November?

Yes. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is a free saltwater fishing day in Florida. No license is needed, but seasons and bag limits still apply, per FWC.

What’s still open for Emerald Coast anglers in November: snapper weekends, triggerfish

By the Outdoors Desk, Emerald Coast Dispatch Published Nov. 7, 2026, 5:26 am

Data card showing Dec. 31 as the closing date for gray triggerfish fishing off the Emerald Coast.

Graphic: Vik Media Group

As of Nov. 7, 2026, Emerald Coast anglers can still keep red snapper on select November weekends, gray triggerfish through Dec. 31, and redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead and red grouper all month, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Gag grouper and greater amberjack are closed in Gulf state waters for the rest of 2026. Red snapper is open this weekend, Nov. 7-8, with a 16-inch minimum and two fish per person.

That makes November one of the better months to fish from Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre and Panama City Beach, as long as you check which species is open on the day you go out.

What fish can I keep off the Emerald Coast in November 2026?

The table below lists the main species FWC regulates in the Panhandle and Gulf state waters, with the status for November 2026. Sizes are total length unless noted.

Species	November 2026 status	Size limit	Daily bag limit
Red snapper	Open Nov. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22 and 26-29	16 in. minimum	2 per person
Gray triggerfish	Open through Dec. 31	15 in. fork length	1 per person
Redfish (red drum)	Open year-round	18 to 27 in. slot	1 per person, 4 per vessel
Speckled trout	Open (closed only in February)	15 to 19 in. slot	3 per person
Sheepshead	Open year-round	12 in. minimum	8 per person
Red grouper	Open year-round in state waters	20 in. minimum	Within the grouper aggregate
Gag grouper	Closed since Oct. 1	—	—
Greater amberjack	Closed since Oct. 14	—	—

Sources: FWC rules for red snapper, gray triggerfish, red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, groupers and greater amberjack, checked Nov. 7, 2026.

When is red snapper open in November off Destin and Okaloosa County?

FWC’s 2026 Gulf red snapper season for private boats and state-permitted charters runs on weekends this fall. In November, the open days are Nov. 7-8, Nov. 14-15, Nov. 21-22 and the four-day Thanksgiving stretch, Nov. 26-29. The season continues on December weekends, Dec. 25-27 and Jan. 1-4, 2027, per FWC.

The limit is two fish per person, 16 inches minimum. Captain and crew of a for-hire boat may keep none. The rules apply in both state and federal Gulf waters for private anglers.

If you fish for red snapper, triggerfish or grouper from a private boat, you need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation each year if you are 16 or older, even if you are exempt from a license, per FWC. Reef fish gear rules also apply: a circle hook with natural bait, plus a dehooking device and a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready, per FWC gear rules.

Is gray triggerfish open in the Gulf right now?

Yes. As of Nov. 7, 2026, gray triggerfish is open in Gulf waters through Dec. 31, with a 15-inch fork length minimum and one fish per person, per FWC. The 2027 season has not been announced. That makes triggerfish one of the few reef fish you can keep on a weekday this month, when red snapper is closed.

Which fish are closed for the rest of 2026?

Gag grouper closed in Gulf state waters on Oct. 1 after a September season, and greater amberjack closed on Oct. 14 after FWC set a Sept. 1 to Oct. 13 season by executive order. Both stay closed through Dec. 31, 2026. FWC sets the 2027 dates each spring.

Red grouper remains open year-round in Gulf state waters with a 20-inch minimum, counted within the four-grouper aggregate.

What can I catch inshore in Choctawhatchee Bay and Santa Rosa Sound in November?

Inshore species stay open through the month. In the Panhandle region, per FWC:

Redfish: 18 to 27 inches, one per person per day, four per vessel. Only hook and line or cast net.
Speckled trout: 15 to 19 inches, three per person per day. One fish over 19 inches is allowed per vessel and counts in the bag. The season closes every February.
Sheepshead: 12 inches minimum, eight per person per day, year-round.

All three must be kept whole until you land them.

Can I still fish the public piers in November?

Yes. The county piers stay open in the off-season. Navarre Beach Pier runs winter hours of 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., per Santa Rosa County, and admission includes the pier’s fishing license. M.B. Miller County Pier in Panama City Beach is open 24 hours, per Bay County. The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier in Fort Walton Beach sets its fees through the county’s leaseholder, per Okaloosa County.

Do I need a fishing license in November?

Yes, unless you are exempt. A Florida resident annual saltwater license costs $17 and a nonresident three-day license costs $17, per FWC. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is a free saltwater fishing day: no license is needed, but seasons and bag limits still apply, per FWC.

Who to contact

For rules and seasons, call FWC at (850) 488-4676 or check the species pages above before each trip, since FWC can change a season by executive order. To report a fishing violation, call the FWC Wildlife Alert line at 888-404-3922.

Spotted a rule change or a closed pier? Email our newsroom through the Contact link at the bottom of this page.

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Questions and answers

Is red snapper open this weekend in Destin?: Red snapper is open in Gulf state and federal waters on Nov. 7-8, Nov. 14-15, Nov. 21-22 and Nov. 26-29, 2026, for private boats and state-permitted charters, per FWC. The limit is two fish per person, 16 inches minimum.
Can I keep gray triggerfish in November in Florida's Gulf waters?: Yes. Gray triggerfish is open in the Gulf through Dec. 31, 2026, with a 15-inch fork length minimum and one fish per person, per FWC.
Is gag grouper open in the Florida Panhandle in November 2026?: No. Gag grouper closed in Gulf state waters on Oct. 1, 2026, after a September season, and stays closed for the rest of the year, per FWC. Red grouper remains open year-round in state waters with a 20-inch minimum.
What is the redfish limit in the Florida Panhandle?: In FWC's Panhandle region, redfish must measure 18 to 27 inches, with one fish per person per day and four per vessel, open year-round.
Is there a free fishing day in Florida in November?: Yes. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is a free saltwater fishing day in Florida. No license is needed, but seasons and bag limits still apply, per FWC.

Sources

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