Fisheries

Montana FWP begins Chinook salmon snagging and archery seasons on Fort Peck Reservoir starting October 1st, with archery running through October 15th and snagging through November 30th. FWP fisheries staff simultaneously conduct annual egg collection efforts through October, targeting fish near the dam using electrofishing to collect eggs for the Fort Peck Multispecies Fish Hatchery, with 220,000 salmon released in spring 2026 from fall 2025 collections.

Apalachicola Bay's wild oyster harvest season opens October 1 through February 28, 2027, for commercial and recreational harvesters. Authorized harvesters can access three reef sites with a seasonal limit of 2,560 bags, while recreational permits allow one bag per person from designated reefs.

The Gulf Council will host a Law Enforcement Technical Committee meeting on October 14, 2026, in Miramar Beach, Florida, in conjunction with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. The committee will discuss hook limitations on commercial longline vessels, crew size restrictions, and joint enforcement activities between state and federal partners.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has closed a small portion of Hatchery Cove on Lake Champlain from October 1 through November 30 to protect landlocked Atlantic salmon migrating to spawn in Hatchery Brook. Fish biologist Bernie Pientka stated the closure aims to reduce fishing pressure that disrupts salmon passage.

Georgia's Coastal Resources Division extended the oyster harvest closure in territorial waters beyond the normal September end date due to coastal water temperatures remaining above 81 degrees. The closure protects public health by meeting National Shellfish Sanitation Program requirements and controlling Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria. Clam harvesting remains open as clams are typically cooked at high temperatures.

Georgia's Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division is seeking public comment on proposed saltwater fishing regulation changes implementing a new Reef/Migratory Fish Endorsement for recreational anglers, established by Senate Bill 420. The $10 annual endorsement for residents aims to improve data collection on offshore reef and migratory species fishing through direct trip-level reporting beginning January 1, 2027.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission announces paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri River from October 1-31. Anglers must possess valid permits and unfilled paddlefish tags, with 1,600 tags authorized and specific regulations including hook size restrictions and fish processing requirements.

NOAA Fisheries approved the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Exempted Fishing Permit for a 14-day Atlantic red snapper season from October 9-22, 2026, open to private anglers and for-hire operations in Florida's Atlantic state and federal waters with specific bag limits and reporting requirements.

Eight additional harvest days have been added to the 2026 Gulf private recreational red snapper season, allowing continuous harvest from October 9-22. The updated schedule includes consecutive fishing periods and weekend/holiday opportunities throughout the year for recreational anglers fishing from private vessels in Florida Gulf waters.

Montana lifted the angling closure on Section 5 of the Big Hole River due to improved flows from weekend rain. Annual spawning closures on the Big Hole River from Dickie Bridge to the Jefferson River, along with sections of the Ruby and Beaverhead rivers, will begin October 1.

Georgia's Department of Natural Resources received an Exempted Fishing Permit from NMFS for a 14-day red snapper season Oct. 9-22, 2026, in federal waters. Private anglers must use VESL electronic reporting and maintain a one-fish daily bag limit. The pilot project tests state-led data collection with potential for a December season if fish remain available.

The Gulf Council will hold a virtual meeting of its Shrimp Advisory Panel on October 15, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT. The panel will review shrimp fleet effort estimates, federal permit analyses, and Shrimp Amendment 20 addressing penaeid shrimp status determination criteria.

Idaho Fish and Game modified fall Chinook and steelhead bag limits effective September 17 to protect natural-origin fish populations. Fall Chinook anglers may only keep adipose clipped adults with a three-fish daily limit, while steelhead limits vary by river system with restrictions on larger fish sizes.

Idaho Fish and Game's McCall Fish Hatchery is closed to the public through Nov. 29 for construction improvements. Tours remain available by appointment with staff. Upon completion, visitors will enjoy enhanced parking, upgraded interpretive signs, live salmon video streams, and an elevated spawning observation platform.

The Gulf Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are developing a joint Amendment to modify mutton and yellowtail snapper management measures. New stock assessments indicate both stocks were healthy as of 2023 with northward range expansion. A virtual public hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2026, with written comments due by October 23, 2026.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has lifted multiple voluntary catch and release fishing closures statewide effective immediately due to cooler weather and lower water temperatures reducing stress on trout populations. Some closures remain in effect; visit their website for current impacted waters.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will conduct nighttime walleye recruitment surveys from late September to mid-October using electrofishing boats to assess young-of-year walleye populations. Surveys will be conducted collaboratively with tribal agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, with genetic analysis completed at Michigan State University.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is stocking 12-inch rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across the state this fall to enhance fishing opportunities. Daryl Bauer, the fisheries outreach program manager, encourages anglers to enjoy the weather and harvest trout from urban and community waters statewide.

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission enacted updates to Fisheries Orders 254 and 205, effective September 10, 2026. Changes clarify possession limits for trout and salmon in inland lakes and align lake sturgeon regulations on the Menominee River with Wisconsin rules.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lifted hoot-owl restrictions on portions of the Madison and Beaverhead rivers due to cooling water temperatures. Drought-related closures remain in effect for the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers. Anglers are encouraged to handle fish carefully to reduce stress year-round.