Document
2020 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Season Length Estimates for the Federal For-Hire Component
The purpose of this report is to project the 2020 recreational red snapper federal for-hire fishing…
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Also Known As
Snapper, Genuine red snapper, American reds, Spot snapper
Quick Facts
Region
Southeast
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught red snapper is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed under rebuilding plans that allow limited harvest by U.S. fishermen.
Population
Below target level in the Gulf of Mexico but fishing rate promotes population growth. Significantly below target population levels in the South Atlantic. Rebuilding plans are in place for both stocks.
Fishing Rate
At recommended level in the Gulf of Mexico. Reduced to end overfishing in the South Atlantic.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to harvest red snapper has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations require modified fishing gear to reduce bycatch. Release techniques improve the chance of survival of unintentionally caught fish.
Population Status
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There are two stocks of red snapper: The Gulf of Mexico stock and the South Atlantic stock. According to the most recent stock assessments:
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The Gulf of Mexico stock is not overfished but still rebuilding to target levels (2018 stock assessment), and not subject to overfishing based on 2020 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
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The South Atlantic stock is overfished and subject to overfishing (2021 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
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Appearance
- Red snapper in deeper waters tend to be redder than those caught in shallower waters.
- They have a long triangular face with the upper part sloping more strongly than the lower.
- Their jaws are equal, with the lower one sometimes slightly projecting.
- They have enlarged canine teeth, which is why they are called “snappers.”
Biology
- Red snapper grow at a moderate rate, and may reach 40 inches long and 50 pounds.
- They can live a long time—red snapper as old as 57 years have been reported in the Gulf of Mexico and as old as 51 years in the South Atlantic.
- Females are able to reproduce as early as age 2.
- Males and females spawn from May to October, depending on their location.
- Red snapper feed on fish, shrimp, crab, worms, cephalopods (octopus or squid), and some plankton (tiny floating plants and animals).
- Young red snapper are food for the large carnivorous fish that share their habitat, such as jacks, groupers, sharks, barracudas, and morays.
- Large marine mammals and turtles also eat snapper.
Where They Live
- Red snapper are generally found at 30 to 620 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern coasts of North America, Central America, and northern South America.
- They are rare north of the Carolinas.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries with the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils manage red snapper in the United States.
- In the Gulf of Mexico, managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico:
- A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2005 with the goal of rebuilding the Gulf of Mexico red snapper stock by 2032.
- Annual catch limits for the commercial and recreational fisheries.
- Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest red snapper. Through the individual fishing quota (catch shares) program, they may harvest their quotas whenever they choose and must report how much they harvest.
- A minimum size limit protects the spawning stock and juveniles.
- For more information, visit NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office’s Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Management website.
- In the South Atlantic, managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region:
- A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2010 with the goal of rebuilding the South Atlantic red snapper stock by 2044. It allows for limited harvest of red snapper as the population continues to grow.
- In 2010 and 2011, regulations prohibited harvest of red snapper in the South Atlantic to protect the population from too much fishing pressure and to allow the number of fish to increase.
- Limited harvest was allowed in 2012-2014. Harvest was prohibited in 2015 and 2016.
- For more information, visit the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Red Snapper Regulations website or NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office’s South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Management page.
- State management consistency with federal management
- In the Gulf of Mexico, recreational state management measures are very different from recreational federal management measures.
- In the South Atlantic, state management measures are fairly consistent with the federal management measures noted above. Some states, such as South Carolina and Georgia, automatically adopt federal regulations while others have separate regulations.
Harvest
- Commercial sector:
- In 2020, commercial landings of red snapper totaled approximately 7.7 million pounds and were valued at $31.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- Commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear (handlines and electric reels) to harvest red snapper, and sometimes use longlines (in the Gulf of Mexico) and spears.
- Commercial fishermen using hook and line gear attach multiple hooks to a vertical line and weight it at the bottom.
- Recreational anglers primarily use hook and line gear to harvest red snapper.
- Fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools and recompression devices when releasing fish suffering from barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when the swim bladder of a fish expands as it is quickly brought to the surface. Venting tools help deflate the swim bladder and recompression devices help the fish return to the depth at which it was caught to recompress the air in the swim bladder, preventing serious injury to the fish.
- In the Gulf of Mexico:
- Regulations prohibit fishing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico to protect sensitive fish populations and habitats.
- Measures are in place to reduce sea turtle bycatch by longline gear and include limiting times or areas where fishermen can fish, gear restrictions, and a limit on the number of vessels that can participate in the reef fish fishery. In addition, all commercial fishermen must follow special sea turtle release protocols and have specialized gear to improve the chances of incidentally caught sea turtles to survive.
- In the South Atlantic:
- Circle hooks are required when fishing for snapper and grouper species north of latitude 28° N. De-hooking devices are also required in the South Atlantic for snapper-grouper species.
- Measures are in place to reduce sea turtle bycatch by fishing gear and include gear restrictions and handling requirements, and a limit on the number of vessels that can participate in the snapper-grouper fishery.
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Recreational sector:
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Recreational anglers primarily use hook and line gear to harvest red snapper.
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In 2020, recreational anglers landed approximately 14.9 million pounds of red snapper, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
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In the Gulf of Mexico:
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Red snapper must be a minimum size to be caught, and there is a limit on how many red snapper anglers can keep per day.
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Charter vessels and headboats must have a permit to fish in federal waters.
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For-hire vessels must use specialized gear and follow certain sea turtle release protocols.
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- In the South Atlantic:
- In 2012, 2013, and 2014 the red snapper season was limited.
- In 2010–2011 and 2015–2016, the red snapper fishery was closed.
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Featured News
Credit: Florida Sea Grant
Red snapper. Credit: Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation