Cubera snapperin Florida (Gulf)
Lutjanus cyanopterus
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for cubera snapper in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Cubera over 30 in: max 2 per person or vessel, excluded from the aggregate.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Snapper aggregate (10).
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
FWC 2026· checked Open
Beyond 9 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 9-mile line, written by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubera snapperThis page. | 12 in TL min | 10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | Open year-round |
| Mangrove snapperSmaller, warmer bronze, smaller teeth.Tell them apart | 10 in TL min | 5 per person within 10-snapper aggregate | Open year-round |
Florida (Gulf) state record
116.38 lb, Clearwater, 1979. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Huge gray snapper with visible canines; adults offshore on wrecks. More on the cubera snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Cubera snapper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a cubera snapper in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appCubera snapper in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for cubera snapper in Florida (Gulf)?
12 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many cubera snapper can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
10 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate). It counts toward an aggregate: Snapper aggregate (10).
When is cubera snapper season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record cubera snapper?
116.38 lb, Clearwater (1979).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) cubera snapper rule?
Source: FWC 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.