Where to fish for mangrove snapper
498 charters name mangrove snapper on their own website, across 162 towns in 1 state.
State records for mangrove snapper
The heaviest mangrove snapper each state has certified, biggest first.
| State | Weight | Where | Year | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 18.67 lb | Gulf of Mexico | 1998 | Steve Pumiliasource |
| Louisiana | 18.63 lb | Ship Shoal | 2015 | Tim Champagnesource |
| Alabama | 18 lb | — | 2007 | Pam Wardsource |
| Florida | 17 lb | Port Canaveral | 1992 | Steve Maddoxsource |
| Mississippi | 15.9 lb | — | 2024 | Joseph Rizzutosource |
| North Carolina | 15.2 lb | Near Frying Pan Tower | 2023 | Adrian Fairclothsource |
| South Carolina | 13.94 lb | Charleston | 2023 | M. Swensonsource |
| Georgia | 12.38 lb | — | 2011 | David Blackshearsource |
Each from that state's own records page, linked on every row. A location links to its town only where the agency named that town — a record logged to "Gulf of Mexico" or an offshore block belongs to no city. Weights are printed as the agency prints them. Records are certified by the state and can be broken at any time.
How big mangrove snapper run
Federal interviewers measured 4,832 of them on charter trips between 2022–2024. The middle half ran 9.9–18 inches, with a median of 12 inches.
Separately, MRIP's catch records for those trips count 4,970 kept and 5,655 released. That is a different tally from the fish that were measured, not a breakdown of them.
NOAA Fisheries MRIP dockside interviews, 2022–2024. A sample of the fish boats brought in, not a total, and not a forecast for any one trip.
About the fish
FWC says they spawn June through August, and have two large canine teeth near the front of the upper jaw.
From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.
Which rules apply to your trip
- Limits are the same on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts: 10 inches total length and 5 per person in state waters, 12 inches and 10 per person in federal waters. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park.
- Either way they count inside Florida's 10-snapper daily aggregate.
Harvest rules
When can you keep one in Florida?
Florida state waters
Gulf and Atlantic state waters.
- All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
Federal waters
Federal waters off both coasts.
- All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
Questions about mangrove snapper
What size mangrove snapper can I keep?
10 inches total length in state waters, 12 inches in federal waters.
How many can I keep?
Five per person in state waters, 10 in federal waters, both counted inside the 10-snapper aggregate.
What does the aggregate mean?
All the snapper species inside it are added together against a 10-fish daily total per person.
Is there a closed season?
No. FWC lists it as open year round on both coasts.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, snapper regulations and FWC, gray snapper profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.