Scientific Name
Lutjanus campechanus
Stock Status
Overfishing – No
Overfished – No (rebuilding)
Stock Assessment
2023 Regulations
Recreational
-
- 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.
Private
Private anglers and state guide boats without federal charter/headboat permits are managed by individual Gulf states.
-
- License/permit: State issued recreational license/angler registry
Note: the following is an unofficial compilation of different state regulations:
| State | Quota | Season | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 31.822%
1,951,569 pounds |
Open June 16 – July 31
Fall season open Fri, Sat & Sun October – November |
2 per person |
| Alabama | 26.298%
1,145,026 pounds |
Open Friday through Monday beginning May 26, 2023 – TBD | 2 per person |
| Mississippi | 3.550%
154,568 pounds |
Open May 26, 2023 – TBD | 2 per person |
| Louisiana | 19.100%
832,493 pounds |
Open May 26, 2023 – TBD | 3 per person |
| Texas | 6.210%
270,386 pounds |
Open June 1, 2023 – TBD | Federal waters: 2 per person State waters: 4 per person |
Federal For-Hire
- Season: Open June 1 – August 25, 2023. If landings reach the federal for-hire ACL harvest will be prohibited for the remainder of the fishing year.
- Minimum Size Limit: 16 inches total length
- Bag Limit: 2. Captain and crew may not retain a bag limit.
- Permit: Federal charter/headboat permit for reef fish required.
Note: the following is an unofficial compilation of different state regulations:
| State Specific Red Snapper Regulations for Federally Permitted Charter/Headboat Vessels | |
|---|---|
| Florida | Federally permitted for-hire vessels may only fish for red snapper in state waters when the state red snapper season is open. They may transit with red snapper when state waters are closed but the federal for-hire season is open. |
| Alabama | Federally permitted for-hire vessels may fish in state waters only when the state season is open. They may transit with red snapper when state waters are closed but the federal for-hire season is open. Owners/operators of federally permitted for-hire vessels are required to possess an Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement and submit an Alabama red snapper landing report prior to red snapper being landed in Alabama. |
| Mississippi | There are no restrictions on federally permitted for-hire vessels fishing in state waters when the federal for-hire season is open. Federally permitted for-hire vessels must report with the Tails n’ Scales program. |
| Louisiana | If the owner/operator of a federally permitted for-hire vessel also holds a Louisiana charter license, he/she may also fish state waters only when the federal for-hire season overlaps with the Louisiana season. Vessels with a valid federal charter/ headboat permit are required to have a valid Charter ROLP to possess red snapper in Louisiana waters. |
| Texas | Federally permitted vessels can fish state waters when the federal for-hire season is open. However, federally permitted vessels must comply with the federal 2-fish per day bag limit and 16-inch minimum size limit. |
NOTE: Under all circumstances, vessels with federal charter/headboat permits may not retain a recreational bag limit of red snapper unless the federal for-hire season is open.
Commercial
-
- Season: Red Snapper is managed under an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. Anyone commercially fishing for red snapper must possess allocation and follow established protocols.
- Minimum Size Limit: 13 inches total length
- 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.
Harvest Limits
| Sector | Annual Catch Limit | Annual Catch Target |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | 15,400,000 pounds | |
| Commercial | 7,854,000 pounds | 7,701,000 pounds |
| Total Recreational | 7,546,000 pounds | |
| Recreational Private | 4,354,042 pounds | 3,483,234 pounds |
| Recreational Federal For-Hire | 3,191,958 pounds | 2,904,682 pounds |
Allocation
