Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Also called Beeliner, B-liner.
How to tell it
Slender vermilion body, series of short diagonal blue lines on the back, deeply forked tail.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called vermilion snapper, and what gives it away.
- Red snapper: Heavier head and jaw, angular anal fin. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10 in total length minimum | 10 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 12 in TL min | 5 per person (not in snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 10 in TL min | 10 per person (not in snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 12 in total length | 5 per person per day (separate from 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 10 in total length | 10 per person, within 20-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 | 10 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 | 5 per person per day (separate from 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 12 in total length | 5/day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 10 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 | 7 lb 3 oz | 1987 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 6.19 lb | 2017 · Gulf of Mexico | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 5 lb 11.68 oz | 2022 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 6.19 lb | 1999 · South of Grand Isle | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 5 lb 3.2 oz | 2021 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 7 lb 4 oz | 2025 · Off Morehead City | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 6 lb 10 oz | 1975 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 6.84 lb | 2022 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
How anglers catch it
Squid on a multi-hook rig over deep reef and ledges; they come up in numbers.
On the table
Excellent — sweet, delicate.
In the app
Point the camera at a vermilion 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 vermilion snapper
What is the size limit for vermilion snapper?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 10 in total length minimum; Florida (Atlantic): 12 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 10 in TL min; Georgia: 12 in total length; Louisiana: 10 in total length; Mississippi: 10 in total length minimum; North Carolina: 12 in total length; South Carolina: 12 in total length; and more in the table above.
How many vermilion snapper can you keep?
Alabama: 10 per person; Florida (Atlantic): 5 per person (not in snapper aggregate); Florida (Gulf): 10 per person (not in snapper aggregate); Georgia: 5 per person per day (separate from 10-snapper aggregate); Louisiana: 10 per person, within 20-reef-fish aggregate; Maryland: 20 aggregate; max 10 of any one species; Mississippi: 10 per person per day; North Carolina: 5 per person per day (separate from 10-snapper aggregate); and more in the table above.
How do you tell vermilion snapper from red snapper?
Vermilion Snapper: Slender vermilion body, series of short diagonal blue lines on the back, deeply forked tail. Red snapper: heavier head and jaw, angular anal fin.
How do you catch vermilion snapper?
Squid on a multi-hook rig over deep reef and ledges; they come up in numbers. Methods: bottom. Baits: squid, cut bait, cigar minnow. Lures: bucktail.
What is the record vermilion snapper?
7 lb 4 oz in North Carolina (2025), Off Morehead City. Other states’ records are in the table.