On Thursday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction halting activities under exempted fishing permits, or EFPs, that had authorized the 2026 state recreational red snapper seasons in the South Atlantic.

According to DeSantis, NOAA approved Florida’s request earlier this month through an exempted fishing permit pilot program, giving the state more authority over Atlantic recreational red snapper management.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference at a marina in Steinhatchee.

Blink and you’ll miss it as the 2024 recreational south Atlantic red snapper season starts out — and ends, for that matter — on the same day.