Alabama state waters, out to 3 miles
AL MRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
The water you are in decides. the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council writes the rule past the line.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Red snapperHeavier head and jaw, angular anal fin. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Alabama state record
Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Slender vermilion body, series of short diagonal blue lines on the back, deeply forked tail. More on the vermilion snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Vermilion snapper in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for vermilion snapper in Alabama?
10 in total length minimum. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many vermilion snapper can you keep in Alabama?
10 per person.
When is vermilion snapper season in Alabama?
Open year-round.
What is the Alabama record vermilion snapper?
7 lb 3 oz (1987).
How current is this Alabama vermilion snapper rule?
Source: AL MRD 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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