Where to fish for mutton snapper
162 charters name mutton snapper on their own website, across 50 towns in 1 state.
State records for mutton snapper
The heaviest mutton snapper each state has certified, biggest first.
| State | Weight | Where | Year | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 30.25 lb | Dry Tortugas | 1998 | Richard Caseysource |
| South Carolina | 26 lb | Murrells Inlet | 2002 | V. Cleverseysource |
| Alabama | 20.75 lb | — | 2006 | Marcus Bryantsource |
| Georgia | 18.41 lb | — | 2019 | Benjamin Lewissource |
| Texas | 18 lb | Gulf of Mexico | 2004 | Roy O'Briansource |
| North Carolina | 17.8 lb | Ocean Isle Offshore | 2025 | Mark Bolessource |
| Louisiana | 17.6 lb | Main Pass | 2002 | Jason Markssource |
| Mississippi | 5.55 lb | — | 2023 | John Montgomerysource |
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 mutton snapper run
Federal interviewers measured 384 of them on charter trips between 2022–2024. The middle half ran 16.5–26.2 inches, with a median of 20.5 inches.
Separately, MRIP's catch records for those trips count 779 released against 334 kept — more put back than taken, which is what a closed season or a tight limit looks like. 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 mutton snapper spawn in July and August.
From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.
Which rules apply to your trip
- Muttons count toward Florida's 10-snapper daily limit per person.
- On the Atlantic coast, special regulations apply to mutton snapper when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Harvest rules
When can you keep one in Florida?
Mutton snapper, both coasts
Gulf and Atlantic, state and federal waters.
- All anglersOpen year roundFWC.
Questions about mutton snapper
How big does a mutton snapper have to be?
18 inches total length.
How many can I keep?
5 per person, inside the 10-snapper daily limit.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, snapper regulations and FWC, mutton snapper profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.