With the US recreational fishing community buzzing about red snapper, one of Florida's best-known charter operations has stepped in to separate fact from social-media noise. In his weekly report from Hubbard's Marina at John's Pass, Captain Dylan Hubbard moved quickly to reassure Gulf Coast anglers that the headlines about a delayed season do not apply to them.
"There's a lot of red snapper news and information floating around social media creating a lot of confusion, so we want to clear that up first," Hubbard said. "If you're a Gulf fisherman, if you're fishing the west coast of Florida, you don't have to be concerned at all. All this red snapper drama is South Atlantic, East Coast of Florida stuff."
For Gulf anglers, the dates are set. The federal for-hire season — the one that applies to charter boats like Hubbard's — runs June 1 through the end of the day on October 25, 2026. Florida's separate private recreational season for anglers on their own boats opened earlier, on May 22, a distinction Hubbard said trips up a lot of customers.
"People think, 'Oh, I can go out with Hubbard's and catch a red snapper starting May 22nd.' No, that's the FWC private recreational season for private anglers on private boats," he explained. For for-hire trips, the clock starts June 1.
There was good news on other species too. Hubbard confirmed the gag grouper season will open for the entire month of September, validating guidance the marina had been giving for two months. "We've been telling you guys now for probably two months that the season is estimated starting September 1st, and boom, there it is. We hit the nail right on the head." He also reminded anglers that triggerfish remain closed through June and July.
The fishing itself has been strong. Offshore, red grouper are biting steadily in 120 to 140 feet and deeper, with mangrove snapper, yellowtail and a scattering of mutton snapper on the longer trips. Pelagic action has picked up, with wahoo, a mahi, a sailfish and kingfish all making appearances. Nearshore, lane snapper are filling in as the hogfish bite slows with rising water temperatures.
Inshore, recent rain has pushed bait — and snook — out of the back bayous and into the passes and beaches, while redfish are crowding the mangroves on high tides. Hubbard passed along a tip from Captain Mike for finding them: "Look for the big fat mullet, the big meat chickens, as he calls them. If you find concentrations of big black mullet, you're going to find the redfish."
Trout are pushing a little deeper into 4 to 10 feet, and tarpon are showing more consistently along the beaches. With a long holiday weekend and a beautiful forecast over Central West Florida, Hubbard's message to anglers carried his usual sign-off: "If you're too busy to go fishing, you're just too darn busy."
