Fishermen prepared for the longest red snapper season in recent memory. A court order stopped it

The prospect of the Atlantic red snapper season being the longest in memory was upended by a court injunction. NOAA had exempted four states from some rules, setting a season lasting 39 to 62 days with a one-fish-per-day limit. The opening was scheduled for May 22, exciting recreational anglers who hoped to fish more often than in recent years. But U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras issued an injunction, citing environmental concerns and potential surges in recreational catches. The ruling framed the dispute as a contest among recreational anglers, commercial fishermen and environmentalists in a broader push to deregulate ocean rules. Florida officials labeled the decision a setback for fishing opportunities, while scientists warned of environmental risks. Ocean Conservancy estimated that Florida recreational catches could reach 485,000 that season, about twenty times the previously landed total. Kemp learned of the order by text on the way to the marina, a stark reminder that plans for opening day can vanish in moments. The dispute underscores a clash among recreational anglers, commercial fishermen and environmental groups, set against state efforts to shift management away from federal oversight.