Vermilion snapperin Florida (Gulf)
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Also called Beeliner, B-liner.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for vermilion snapper in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion snapperThis page. | 10 in TL min | 10 per person (not in snapper aggregate) | Open year-round |
| Red snapperHeavier head and jaw, angular anal fin.Tell them apart | 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 |
Florida (Gulf) state record
6.19 lb, Gulf of Mexico, 2017. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · 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 states
In the app
Point the camera at a vermilion snapper in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appVermilion snapper in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for vermilion snapper in Florida (Gulf)?
10 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many vermilion snapper can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
10 per person (not in snapper aggregate).
When is vermilion snapper season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record vermilion snapper?
6.19 lb, Gulf of Mexico (2017).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) vermilion 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.