Schoolmaster Snapper
Lutjanus apodus
How to tell it
Snapper with 8 pale vertical bars, a blue streak under the eye, and every fin yellow.
- Not a dog snapper? That one visible canines and a pale triangle under the eye. (Dog Snapper)
- Not a mangrove snapper? That one darker, no bars, red-brown cast. (Mangrove 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) | 10 in TL min | 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 3.69 lb | 2024 · Jupiter | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good — typical snapper.
In the app
Point the camera at a schoolmaster 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 schoolmaster snapper
What is the size limit for schoolmaster snapper?
It depends on the state. Florida (Atlantic): 10 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 10 in TL min; Mississippi: 12 in total length minimum.
How many schoolmaster 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 schoolmaster snapper from dog snapper?
Schoolmaster Snapper has this: Snapper with 8 pale vertical bars, a blue streak under the eye, and every fin yellow.. Dog Snapper visible canines and a pale triangle under the eye.
What is the record schoolmaster snapper?
3.69 lb in Florida (2024), Jupiter. Other states’ records are in the table.