Mangrove Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Also called Gray snapper, Mango.
How to tell it
Gray-bronze with reddish tinge, two canine fangs up top, dark stripe through the eye on juveniles.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called mangrove snapper, and what gives it away.
- Lane snapper: Pink-yellow stripes and a dark side spot. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12 in total length minimum | 10 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 10 in TL min | 5 per person within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 10 in TL min | 5 per person within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 12 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 12 in total length | 10 per person in snapper 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 | 12 in total length minimum | 10 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 12 in total length | 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 12 in total length | 10/day snapper aggregate | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| TexasFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | 12 in total length | Within 10-snapper aggregate (10 snappers combined per person per day) | Open year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 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 | 18 lb | 2007 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 5 lb 15 oz | 2016 · Millstone Outflow | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 17 lb | 1992 · Port Canaveral | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 12 lb 6 oz | 2011 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 18.63 lb | 2015 · Ship Shoal | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 15 lb 9.6 oz | 2025 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 15 lb 3.2 oz | 2023 · Near Frying Pan Tower | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 13 lb 15 oz | 2023 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 18.67 lb | 1998 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
How anglers catch it
Light leader, small hooks, a live shrimp or pilchard drifted back to the mangroves, docks or reef.
On the table
Excellent.
In the app
Point the camera at a mangrove 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 mangrove snapper
What is the size limit for mangrove snapper?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 12 in total length minimum; Florida (Atlantic): 10 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 10 in TL min; Georgia: 12 in total length; Louisiana: 12 in total length; Mississippi: 12 in total length minimum; North Carolina: 12 in total length; South Carolina: 12 in total length; and more in the table above.
How many mangrove snapper can you keep?
Alabama: 10 per person; Florida (Atlantic): 5 per person within 10-snapper aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 5 per person within 10-snapper aggregate; Georgia: 10 per person per day 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; North Carolina: 10 per person per day within 10-snapper aggregate; and more in the table above.
How do you tell mangrove snapper from lane snapper?
Mangrove Snapper: Gray-bronze with reddish tinge, two canine fangs up top, dark stripe through the eye on juveniles. Lane snapper: pink-yellow stripes and a dark side spot.
How do you catch mangrove snapper?
Light leader, small hooks, a live shrimp or pilchard drifted back to the mangroves, docks or reef. Methods: bottom, live bait, casting. Baits: shrimp, sardine, pinfish, cut bait. Lures: bucktail, soft plastic.
What is the record mangrove snapper?
18.67 lb in Texas (1998), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.