Snappers - FWC

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• Buy and Apply
  • Recreational
    • Fishing & Hunting
      • How to Order
      • Do I Need a License?
      • Limited Entry/Quota Hunts
    • Public Land Use
    • Accessibility Accommodations
  • Commercial
    • Commercial Licenses
      • Commercial Saltwater
      • Commercial Freshwater
      • CLS Online Login
    • Charter Licenses
    • Vessel Pier Licenses
  • Wildlife
    • Wildlife Permits
    • Nuisance Wildlife Permits
    • Captive Wildlife Permits
  • More ...
    • Application Forms
    • Boating & Navigation
• Resolve a Wildlife Conflict
  • Wildlife Alert
    • Report a Violation
    • Know the Rules
      • Captive Wildlife
      • Saltwater Recreational Regulations
      • Freshwater Recreational Regulations
      • Hunting Regulations
      • Boating Regulations
      • See All
  • Resolve Wildlife Conflict
    • Learn to Unhook Seabirds
    • Living with Wildlife
      • Bear
      • Bats
      • Coyote
      • Alligators and Crocodiles
      • Shorebirds/Seabirds
      • Snakes
      • See All
  • Report Issues
    • Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.
      • Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program
      • Report Fish Kills
      • Red Tide Status
      • Report Sightings of Nonnative Species
      • Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees
      • See All
• Engaging in Conservation
  • Conservation
    • Value of Conservation
    • Living with Wildlife
    • Freshwater Programs
    • Saltwater Programs
    • Terrestrial Programs
    • Stash the trash
    • Special Initiatives
      • Coastal Wildlife
      • State Wildlife Action Plan
      • See All
  • Wildlife and Habitats
    • Wildlife Conservation
    • Nonnative Species
    • Species Profiles
      • Alligator
      • Bald Eagle
      • Bear
      • Gopher Tortoise
      • Manatee
      • Panther
      • Sea Turtle
      • See All
  • How You Can Conserve
    • Install Wildlife Lighting
    • Exotic Pet Amnesty
    • Habitat Management
      • Working with Private Landowners
      • Invasive Plants
      • Prescribed Fire
      • Management Plans
      • Aquatic Habitat Conservation
      • See All
    • Education
      • Educators
      • Outdoor Skills
      • Learn about Wildlife
      • See All
  • Research
    • Freshwater
    • GIS and Mapping
    • Habitat
    • Manatee
    • Red Tide
    • Saltwater
    • Wildlife
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• Things To Do
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      • Recreational Regulations
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      • Saltwater Fishing Clinics
      • Provide Comments
      • See All
  • Hunting
    • Regulations
      • WMA Brochures
      • Season Dates
      • Hunter Safety
      • Limited Entry Hunts
    • New Hunter
    • Public Shooting Ranges
    • Alligator
    • Deer
    • Dove
    • Turkey
    • Quail
    • Waterfowl
    • Wild Hog
  • Wildlife Recreation
    • Wildlife Viewing
      • Where to View Wildlife
      • How to View Wildlife
      • Backyards and Beyond
      • Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
      • See All
    • Recreation on Wild Lands
      • What are WMAS?
      • Explore by name
      • Explore by map
      • What to Do
      • See All
  • Boating
    • Regulations
    • Safety & Education
      • Safety Equipment
      • ID Cards
      • Courses
      • See All
    • Boat Ramps & Access
    • Derelict Vessels
    • Stash the trash
    • Wear It Florida
    • Wildlife Alert
• Places To Go
  • WMAs
    • WMA Brochures
      • Area Opened/Closed Status
    • What are Wildlife Management Areas?
      • Explore By Name
      • Explore the Map
      • See All
  • Recreation
    • Where to Go
      • Hunting
      • Fishing
      • Wildlife Viewing
      • Hiking
      • See All
    • Outfitters and Guides
  • Public Shooting Ranges
    • Range Safety Rules
    • Safety & Education
    • Map of public shooting ranges
  • Go Outdoors Florida!
    • Discover Wildlands
    • Fishing Sites & Forecasts
    • Boating Ramps & Access
    • Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail
    • Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network
    • Calendar of Events
    • Artificial Reefs
• About Us
  • About
    • Inside FWC
      • Research Institute
      • Hunting and Game Management
      • Freshwater Fisheries Management
      • Law Enforcement
      • Habitat and Species Conservation
      • Marine Fisheries Management
      • See All
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      • Sign up for news releases
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• Snappers

Snappers

2025 Florida Private Recreational Gulf Red Snapper Season Announced

The 2025 Gulf red snapper private recreational season will open for Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26), then reopen June 1 and continue through July 31. For the fall, the season will open daily from September 1-14, then switch to 3–day weekends (Friday – Sunday) for the remainder of the year with special holiday opportunities on Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve. Complete season dates below.

News Release

FWC's Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) Project

FWC has developed three separate EFP projects that may give you opportunities to fish for (and keep!) Atlantic red snapper outside of the one-day Atlantic federal recreational season to get better data and test new, innovative ideas aimed at reducing dead discards.

Learn More

News

Gulf Recreational Red Snapper

• The 2025 fishing season will be open for 126 day, divided between summer and fall opportunities.
• The summer season will open for Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26), then reopen daily from June 1 through July 31.
• The fall season will open be open daily from September 1-14, then shift to weekends only (Friday – Sunday) for the remainder of the year.
• Special holiday opportunities will occur on Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.
• This season applies to recreational anglers fishing from a private vessel in Florida Gulf state and federal waters.
• For-hire charter operators without a federal reef fish permit may also participate but are limited to fishing in Florida Gulf state waters only.
• Complete season dates are listed in the regulation table below.
• Gulf red snapper will close January 1, 2026.

Atlantic Federal Recreational Red Snapper

• NOAA announced the 2025 Atlantic Red Snapper season will be open July 11-12, 2025 in federal waters.
• Harvest of Atlantic Red Snapper is closed. NOAA will announce the 2026 Atlantic Red Snapper season later in the year.

Fishing for snappers?

Make sure you're signed up for the State Reef Fish Survey

Learn more

Regulations by Coast

Gulf of America Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified; Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 miles)

Expand All | Collapse All Red Expand/Collapse Red

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

 

Season

2025 Season:

Summer Season:

• May 24-26 (Sat. - Mon. of Memorial Day Weekend)
• June 1 - July 31 (Daily)

Fall Season:

• Sept. 1-14 (Daily)
• Sept. 19-21, 26-28
• Oct. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26
• Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
• Nov. 7-9
• Nov. 11 (Veteran's Day)
• Nov. 14-16, 21-23
• Nov. 27-30 (Thanksgiving weekend)
• Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21
• Dec. 25-28 (Christmas weekend)
• Dec. 31 (New Years Eve)​​​

Season applies to:

• Recreational anglers fishing from private vessels in Florida Gulf state and federal waters
• Charter for-hire vessels that do not have a federal permit are limited to harvest during the recreational season in Florida Gulf state waters only.

2026 Season: Closed Jan. 1 until season is announced

Vermilion Expand/Collapse Vermilion

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

Season

Open year-round

Schoolmaster Expand/Collapse Schoolmaster

Min. Size Limit

10" TL

Daily Bag Limit

10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit

Season

Open year-round

Gray (Mangrove) Expand/Collapse Gray (Mangrove)

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 

Season

Open year-round

Mutton Expand/Collapse Mutton

Min. Size Limit

18" TL

Daily Bag Limit

5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit 

Season

Open year-round

Cubera Expand/Collapse Cubera

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

10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit

Season

Open year-round

Lane Expand/Collapse Lane

Min. Size Limit

8" TL

Daily Bag Limit

State: Default bag limit of 100 pounds 

Federal: 20 under their 20-reef fish aggregate

Season

Open year-round

Black Wenchman, Queen, Blackfin, and Silk Expand/Collapse Black Wenchman, Queen, Blackfin, and Silk

Min. Size Limit

None

Daily Bag Limit

Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit

Season

Open year-round

Yellowtail, Dog, and Mahogany Expand/Collapse Yellowtail, Dog, and Mahogany

Min. Size Limit

12" total length

Daily Bag Limit

Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit

Season

Open year-round

Note:  Reef fish gear requirements apply.

Atlantic Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified; Atlantic state waters are from shore to 3 miles)

Expand All | Collapse All Red Expand/Collapse Red

Min. Size Limit

State: 20" TL

Federal: None

Daily Bag Limit

State: 2 per person

Federal: 1 per person

Season

State: Open year-round

Federal: Closed

Vermilion Expand/Collapse Vermilion

Min. Size Limit

12" TL

Daily Bag Limit

5 per person (not included in the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit)  

Season

Open year-round

Gray (Mangrove) Expand/Collapse Gray (Mangrove)

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.

Season

Open year-round

Schoolmaster Expand/Collapse Schoolmaster

Min. Size Limit

10" 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.

Season

Open year-round

Mutton Expand/Collapse Mutton

Min. Size Limit

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.

Season

Open year-round

Cubera Expand/Collapse Cubera

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

10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit

Season

Open year-round

Lane Expand/Collapse Lane

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.

Season

Open year-round

Black, Wenchman, Queen, Blackfin, and Silk Expand/Collapse Black, Wenchman, Queen, Blackfin, and Silk

Min. Size Limit

None

Daily Bag Limit

Up to 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit

Season

Open year-round

Yellowtail, Dog, and Mahogany Expand/Collapse Yellowtail, Dog, and Mahogany

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.

Season

Open year-round

Note: Reef fish gear requirements apply.

Return ‘Em Right

A resource for anglers interested in best release practices.

Learn more

Gulf Red Snapper

Red snapper are long-lived, early-maturing reef fish that are broadly distributed in the Gulf of America. 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

Atlantic red snapper research State Reef Fish Survey

More Information

• Reef Fish Gear Rules
• State Reef Fish Rule, 68B-14, F.A.C.
• Federal Code of Regulations
• NOAA Fisheries Red Snapper Info
• NMFS Southest Regional Office
• Gulf Council
• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
• Stock Assessments (SEDAR)
• Snapper Species Profile

💬 Ask Buck! ✖