Red snapperin Florida (Gulf)
Lutjanus campechanus
Also called Genuine red, American red.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for red snapper in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
140-day 2026 season; State Reef Fish Angler registration required; reopens Sep 1.
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.
Private-angler seasons in Gulf federal waters are set by each state (delegated management) — check your state's season. Federal for-hire: Jun 1 – Oct 26, 2026.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red snapperThis page. | 16 in TL min | 2 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | 2026: May 22 - Jul 31; Sep 1 - Oct 4; Oct-Nov weekends through Nov 22 |
| Vermilion snapperSmaller, streamlined, forked tail, no heavy jaw.Tell them apart | 10 in TL min | 10 per person (not in snapper aggregate) | Open year-round |
| Red grouperGrouper mouth and rounded tail, mottled brick red.Tell them apart | 20 in TL min | 2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate | Open year-round |
Florida (Gulf) state record
46.5 lb, Destin, 1985. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Uniform rose red, red eye, pointed anal fin; adults lack the dark side spot. More on the red snapper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red snapper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a red snapper in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appRed snapper in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for red snapper in Florida (Gulf)?
16 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red snapper can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
2 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate). It counts toward an aggregate: Snapper aggregate (10).
When is red snapper season in Florida (Gulf)?
2026: May 22 - Jul 31; Sep 1 - Oct 4; Oct-Nov weekends through Nov 22. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record red snapper?
46.5 lb, Destin (1985).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) red 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.