Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
State waters open year-round at 4 fish/15 in; circle hooks required with natural bait (federal waters differ: 2 fish, 16 in, seasonal).
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 9 miles: federal waters Different rule
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
Vermilion snapperSmaller, streamlined, forked tail, no heavy jaw. Tell them apart
Red grouperGrouper mouth and rounded tail, mottled brick red. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · 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 states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red snapper in Texas?
15 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red snapper can you keep in Texas?
4.
When is red snapper season in Texas?
Open year-round (Texas state waters).
What is the Texas record red snapper?
38.75 lb, Gulf of America (2014).
How current is this Texas red snapper rule?
Source: TPWD 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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