Snappers
Snapper are managed differently in the Gulf versus the Atlantic and in state versus federal waters.
Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles.
Atlantic state waters are from shore to 3 nautical miles.
Scroll down for regulations by coast and by species.
News
2019 Gulf Red Snapper Season
At the Dec. 12-13 Commission meeting in St. Augustine, the FWC Commissioners directed staff to proceed with a proposal that would set the 2019 red snapper recreational season in Gulf state and federal waters. Under the current draft proposal, the Gulf season would be open June 11 through July 12, with a possible fall reopening if quota is available. Staff will report back to the Commission at the February meeting for final review and approval of the 2019 Gulf red snapper recreational season.
See the Commission agenda for more.
Gulf Red Snapper State Management Public Hearings
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is holding public hearings and a webinar to solicit public comments on Draft Amendment 50 – State Management of Recreational Red Snapper. This amendment would, if approved, allow state management in future years and would provide flexibility to the Gulf states to set the recreational red snapper fishing season and potentially other management measures.
See workshop page for dates and locations of public input gathering meetings across the state starting Dec. 3-Jan. 23.
Fishing for snappers in the Gulf?
Make sure signed up for the Gulf Reef Fish Survey
Regulations by Coast
Gulf of Mexico Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified)
Min. Size Limit
16" TL
Daily Bag Limit
2 per person (included in the 10 per harvester per day state snapper aggregate bag limit)
Charter captain and crew: zero
Open Season
Proposed 2019 season: June 11 - July 12
Will be brought before the Commission at the February meeting in Gainesville.
Submit comments on this season
Min. Size Limit
10" TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 10 per person (not included in the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit)
Federal:10/person within 20 reef fish aggregate
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
10" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 10" TL
Federal: 12" TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Federal: 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 18" TL
Federal: 18" TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Federal: Up to 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 12" TL
May possess no more than 2 over 30" per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less. 30" or larger cubera are not included within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Federal: 12" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
8" TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: Default bag limit of 100 pounds
Federal: 20 under their 20-reef fish aggregate
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 12" TL
Federal: 12" TL for Yellowtail only; others have no minimum size
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Note: Gear rules require circle hooks and dehooking to be used in Gulf state waters reef fish fisheries. The requirement to use venting tools in state and federal waters was eliminated in 2014.
Atlantic Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified)
Min. Size Limit
State: 20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 2 per person
Daily Bag Limit
State: Open year-round
Federal: 2018 season to be determined
Min. Size Limit
12" TL
Daily Bag Limit
5 per person (not included in the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit)
Closed Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 10" TL
Federal: 12" TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Federal: 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 10" TL
Federal: None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 18" TL
Federal: 18" TL
Daily Bag Limit
5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
12" TL
May possess no more than 2 over 30" per harvester or vessel per day, whichever is less
30" or larger cubera are not included within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
8" TL
Daily Bag Limit
10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
12" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Open Season
Open year-round
Note: Gear rules require dehooking tools to be used in the Atlantic reef fish fishery.
Captain and crew can keep recreational bag limits of all in-season snapper grouper species.
Gulf Red Snapper
Red snapper are long-lived, early-maturing reef fish that are broadly distributed in the Gulf of Mexico. They can live to be 57. Older, larger females contribute far more eggs than younger, smaller females. To have a sustainable red snapper stock, there should be an abundance of older/larger fish to maximize the number of young fish coming into the fishery.
One 24-inch female red snapper (about an 8 year old fish) produces as many eggs as 212 17-inch females (about 5 years old).
Snapper Research
