Dog Snapper
Lutjanus jocu
Also called Dogtooth snapper.
How to tell it
Canines you can see with the mouth CLOSED; pale triangle and a row of blue dots below the eye.
- Not a cubera snapper? That one grows far larger, lacks the pale cheek triangle. (Cubera Snapper)
- Not a schoolmaster snapper? That one barred, all-yellow fins. (Schoolmaster Snapper)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 20-fish reef fish aggregate | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 12 in TL min | 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 12 in TL min | 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | No size limit | 10 per person in snapper aggregate | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | 20 aggregate; max 10 of any one species | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 12 in total length minimum | 10 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 lb 4 oz | 2018 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 30.97 lb | 2026 · Garden Banks | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-28 |
| Mississippi | 15 lb | 2004 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 27.24 lb | 2020 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good, but big Keys fish carry ciguatera risk.
In the app
Point the camera at a dog snapper and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about dog snapper
What is the size limit for dog snapper?
It depends on the state. Florida (Atlantic): 12 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 12 in TL min; Mississippi: 12 in total length minimum.
How many dog snapper can you keep?
Alabama: 20-fish reef fish aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate); Florida (Gulf): 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate); Louisiana: 10 per person in snapper aggregate; Maryland: 20 aggregate; max 10 of any one species; Mississippi: 10 per person per day.
How do you tell dog snapper from cubera snapper?
Dog Snapper has this: Canines you can see with the mouth CLOSED; pale triangle and a row of blue dots below the eye.. Cubera Snapper grows far larger, lacks the pale cheek triangle.
What is the record dog snapper?
30.97 lb in Louisiana (2026), Garden Banks. Other states’ records are in the table.