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
2021 Gulf Recreational Red Snapper Season:
- The 2021 season for recreational anglers fishing from private vessels in Gulf state and federal waters and charter for-hire operations who do not have a federal reef fish permit (can fish in state waters only) will be June 4-July 28.
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If you plan to fish for red snapper in state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, even if you are exempt from fishing license requirements, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal required) at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
- The 2021 recreational red snapper season for federally-permitted charter for-hire operations will be June 1 through Aug. 2 (closed on Aug. 3). Learn more.
2020 Preliminary Gulf Red Snapper Landings (as of 4/8/2021)
- June Landings: 588,247 lbs.
- July Landings: 480,537 lbs.
- September Landings: 947 lbs.
- October Landings: 95,970 lbs.
- November Landings: 234,789
- Total: 1,400,517 lbs.
% of Florida Quota Harvested: 73%
State Reef Fish Survey
The State Reef Fish Survey replaced the Gulf Reef Fish Survey on July 1, 2020. All anglers on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida who intend to fish for or harvest certain reef fish from a private vessel are required to obtain the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Those with a Gulf Reef Fish Angler designation will meet the statewide requirement until the Gulf designation expires, even if you are fishing on the Atlantic coast. Learn more.
New Gear Requirements for Atlantic State and Federal Waters
Starting Jan. 1, 2021, anglers using hook-and-line with natural baits to target reef fish like snapper or grouper from a vessel in Atlantic state waters will be required to use non-stainless-steel, non-offset circle hooks north of 28 degrees north latitude (near Melbourne) and non-stainless-steel hooks south of 28 degrees north latitude. Learn more.
In Atlantic federal waters, new gear modifications include a new requirement for descending devices and modifications to hook requirements when snapper grouper fishing. Read this Snapper-Grouper fishery in Atlantic federal waters announcement for more.
Fishing for snappers?
Make sure signed up for the State 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 - 2021
Recreational anglers fishing from private vessels and charter for-hire's that do not have a federal permit (and can only target reef fish in state waters): June 4-July 28
Federally-permitted charter for-hire season: June 1-Aug. 2 (closed on Aug. 3)
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
State and Federal waters: 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" total length
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
Federal: 1 per person
Open Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: 2021 season to be determined
Min. Size Limit
12" TL
Daily Bag Limit
5 per person (not included in the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit)
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 10" TL
Federal: 12" TL
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
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
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 10" TL
Federal: None
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: 18" TL
Federal: 18" TL
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Daily Bag Limit
5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
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
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Daily Bag Limit
10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
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
Special regulations apply for yellowtail snapper when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit
Special regulations apply for yellowtail snapper when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Open Season
Open year-round
Note: In the Atlantic reef fish fishery, gear rules require dehooking tools, and as of Jan. 1, 2021, non-stainless steel hooks in all state waters, and non-offset circle hooks N. of 28 ° N. latitude.
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
