Scientific Name
Lutjanus synagris
Stock Status
Overfishing – Yes
Overfished – Unknown
Stock Assessment
2023 Regulations
| Recreational | Commercial | ||
| Season | Open. *If landings reach the stock ACL, harvest will be prohibited for the remainder of the fishing year | Season | Open. *If landings reach the stock ACL, harvest will be prohibited for the remainder of the fishing year |
| Minimum Size Limit | 8 inches total length | Minimum Size Limit | 8 inches total length |
| Bag Limit | Within the 20-reef fish aggregate bag limit which includes vermillion snapper, lane snapper, gray triggerfish, almaco jack, golden tilefish, goldface tilefish, and blueline tilefish. | Trip Limit | none |
| Permit | State issued recreational license/angler registry, federal angler registry or Federal charter/headboat permit for reef fish | Permit | Commercial vessel permit for reef fish is required.Additionally, an eastern Gulf reef fish bottom longline endorsement required to use bottom longline for Gulf reef fish in the federal waters east of 85°30′ longitude. |
| Gear | Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one dehooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. | Gear | Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one dehooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. |
Harvest Limits
| Sector | Annual Catch Limit |
| Stock | 1,028,973 pounds |
Description
Similar to its snapper relatives, lane snapper, also called “candy snapper”, is found from the Carolinas to southeastern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, and Caribbean Sea. It is a silvery pink to reddish color on its back and along its sides, with a series of slender horizontal yellow lines extending from the face to the base of the tail fin. Other distinguishing characteristics include a rounded anal fin and a diffuse black spot on the side below the dorsal fin touching the lateral line.
Maximum observed age: 10 years1
Age at maturity: 1 year2
Maximum weight: 8.20 pounds (3.72 kilograms)3
Maximum length: 23.62 inches (60 centimeters)4
Life History and Distribution
Lane snapper occurs in a variety of habitats including coral reefs and vegetated sandy areas in shallow inshore waters, but has also been reported in deeper offshore waters. Juveniles are most often found in shallow inshore protected areas such as seagrass beds and shallow reefs. As an adult, lane snapper forms large aggregations, especially during the spawning season in the spring and summer months. Spawning peaks differ depending on location.
References
- Manooch, C.S. III, 1987. Age and growth of snappers and groupers. p. 329-373. In J.J. Polovina and S. Ralston (eds.) Tropical snappers and groupers: biology and fisheries management. Ocean Resour. Mar. Policy Ser. Westview Press, Inc., Boulder and London.
- Farmer, N.A., Malinowski, R.P., McGovern, M.F. and Rubec, P.J. (2016), Stock Complexes for Fisheries Management in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 8: 177-201. doi:10.1080/19425120.2015.1024359)
- IGFA All Tackle Record, Mississippi
- IGFA, 2001. Database of IGFA angling records until 2001. IGFA, Fort Lauderdale, USA.