Species

Red snapper

Red snapper (northern red snapper), the most important bottom fish of the Gulf of Mexico: scarlet, schooling around reefs, wrecks and oil rigs, and tightly regulated with short seasons.

Lutjanus campechanus

Photo: Geeklikepi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: April to December, most intense from June to August in the northern Gulf and from August to September off southwest Florida; larvae hatch after 20 to 27 hours at 23 to 27 °C (German Wikipedia). Mature at two to five years (Wikipedia), on average at 39.3 cm (FishBase).
Typical method: Bottom fishing over reefs, wrecks and oil rigs with 50-lb class tackle (Wikipedia)
Top bait: Squid

Plan a day fishing for Red snapper

How to recognise it

Light to scarlet red, more intense on the back (Wikipedia, German Wikipedia)
Scale rows above the lateral line rise obliquely towards the dorsal fin (FishBase, German Wikipedia)
Juveniles under 30 to 35 cm with a large dark spot below the front soft dorsal rays (FishBase)

Easily confused with: Other snappers such as mangrove, mutton and dog snapper have prominent upper canine teeth, red snapper do not (Wikipedia). Lane snapper, blackfin snapper, bigeyes and Sebastes rockfish are also called red snapper or mistaken for it; genetic studies show that much "red snapper" in US trade is another species (Wikipedia). In Germany only the Malabar snapper may be sold as "Roter Schnapper" (German Wikipedia).

How to catch it

Methods: Bottom fishing over reefs, wrecks and oil rigs with 50-lb class tackle (Wikipedia), Several baited hooks and a soft touch, because the fish tends to nibble (Wikipedia), Heavy jigs tipped with a strip of bait, larger fish also on free-lined baits higher in the water (Wikipedia), Release with a venting or descending device to reduce barotrauma (rule of thumb)

Baits: Squid, Whole medium-sized baitfish, Cut bait strips, Heavy jig tipped with bait, Live baitfish

The season decides when you may fish: for private anglers each Gulf state sets the season for state and federal waters; for federally permitted for-hire vessels it ran from 1 June to 26 October in 2026 (NOAA Fisheries).

Habitat and food

Western Atlantic: throughout the Gulf of Mexico and along the US East Coast to Massachusetts, rare north of the Carolinas (FishBase). Over rocky bottoms at 10 to 190 m, usually 30 to 130 m; juveniles in shallow water over sand and mud (FishBase). Wikipedia gives mostly 9 to 60 m, occasionally 90 m, on rocks, ledges, ridges and artificial reefs such as oil rigs and wrecks; fish form schools of similar size. Of 146 tagged and recaptured fish, 76 percent were within 2 km of their release site (Wikipedia).

Mainly fish, shrimp, crabs, worms and cephalopods, plus plankton such as tunicates and snails (FishBase). According to Wikipedia it eats almost anything but prefers small fish and crustaceans.

Size and age

FishBase: max. 100 cm, commonly around 60 cm, maximum published weight 22.8 kg, maximum age 57 years. Wikipedia says fish are commonly caught up to 4.5 kg and 51 cm and fish over 18 kg have been taken; German Wikipedia gives the largest fish as 1.26 m and 38 kg and a usual age of 10 to 16 years. The figures contradict each other.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: IUCN: Vulnerable (assessed 10 August 2015; FishBase). USA: licence, minimum size and bag limits are set by the states and, for federal waters, by NOAA Fisheries; every angler needs a state saltwater licence or registration (NOAA Fisheries). Gulf of Mexico federal waters: minimum size 16 inches (40.6 cm) total length (50 CFR 622.37), two fish per person per day, zero for captain and crew of for-hire vessels (50 CFR 622.38, both retrieved 21 Oct 2026). Since Reef Fish Amendment 50 private anglers follow the season and rules of their state (NOAA Fisheries); federally permitted for-hire vessels could fish from 1 June to 26 October 2026 (NOAA Fisheries, bulletin FB26-014). South Atlantic: separate, very short seasons, not checked; for Florida check myfwc.com.

Rules in the USA

In the USA, each state sets its own size limits, bag limits and seasons. Pescaday does not list these rules yet: check them with the fish and wildlife agency of the state you fish in. Fishing licence USA: agency by state

In Germany we found no minimum size or closed season for this species in any state fisheries regulation.

In the kitchen

Excellent, sought-after food fish, steamed, broiled or baked (FishBase, German Wikipedia). FishBase reports cases of ciguatera.

Sources (8)

Last checked 2026-10-22. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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