Lane Snapper
Lutjanus synagris
How to tell it
Pink with yellow horizontal stripes and a diffuse dark spot below the rear dorsal.
- Not a white grunt? That one grunt has blue head stripes, no dark spot. (White Grunt)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10 in total length minimum | 20-fish reef fish aggregate | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 8 in TL min | 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 10 in TL min | 20 per person (not in snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 8 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 8 in total length | 20 per person in reef fish aggregate | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | 20 aggregate; max 10 of any one species | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 8 in total length minimum | 20 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 8 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 8 in total length | 10/day snapper aggregate | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 8 in total length | No bag limit | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8 lb 1 oz | 2011 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 6.38 lb | 1991 · Pensacola | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 12.08 lb | 2009 · Ship Shoal Blks. | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 8 lb 3.2 oz | 2001 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 8.2 lb | 2004 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Very good.
In the app
Point the camera at a lane 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 lane snapper
What is the size limit for lane snapper?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 10 in total length minimum; Florida (Atlantic): 8 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 10 in TL min; Georgia: 8 in total length; Louisiana: 8 in total length; Mississippi: 8 in total length minimum; North Carolina: 8 in total length; South Carolina: 8 in total length; and more in the table above.
How many lane snapper can you keep?
Alabama: 20-fish reef fish aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate); Florida (Gulf): 20 per person (not in snapper aggregate); Georgia: 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate; Louisiana: 20 per person in reef fish aggregate; Maryland: 20 aggregate; max 10 of any one species; Mississippi: 20 per person per day; North Carolina: 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate; and more in the table above.
How do you tell lane snapper from white grunt?
Lane Snapper has this: Pink with yellow horizontal stripes and a diffuse dark spot below the rear dorsal.. White Grunt grunt has blue head stripes, no dark spot.
What is the record lane snapper?
12.08 lb in Louisiana (2009), Ship Shoal Blks.. Other states’ records are in the table.