Overall rosy red. Canine teeth less prominent than those of most other Snappers. Red eye. Anal fin is triangular. The Caribbean Red Snapper, Lutjanus purpureus, is very similar in appearance and is found in the northwest and central Caribbean.
Common from a pound or so to about 6 or 8 pounds. Usual maximum is about 20 pounds, although the Red Snapper can rarely run as high as 30 or 40 pounds. World record 50 pounds, 4 ounces; Florida record 46 pounds, 8 ounces.
Excellent at all sizes.
A hard-fighting fish that uses strong, head-shaking tactics rather than long runs.
Some Red Snapper spots in fairly shallow water, say up to 50 or 60 feet, permit the use of light ocean tackle, or even heavy spinning and baitcasting tackle. Much Snapper fishing, however— especially on long-range headboat and charterboat trips from Panhandle ports—requires deep drops in strong current.This means that only very heavy rods and strong lines of 50- or 80-pound test can handle the heavy weights needed to do the job. As for baits, dead Cigar Minnows, Pilchards or cut fish and squid do well at times, although in heavily fished spots (which most are these days) it will probably be necessary to use live small baitfish to coax bites from Snappers of decent size.
Still Fishing; Casting; Drifting.
A temperate fish rather than tropical, the Red Snapper is rare in South Florida, although caught occasionally. It is standard bottom-fishing fare, however, offshore of the Atlantic Coast from about the center of the Peninsula northward, and in deep waters of the northern Gulf.
Along the Panhandle, Red Snappers are sometimes found in fairly shallow water off the beaches, and even in deep holes of the larger bays. Off the Peninsular Gulf Coast, however, few Red Snappers are found close enough to shore to merit a one-day effort; most offshore Snappers along that part of the coast are Grays.
World Record Red Snapper
Taylor Shenk caught this 26 pound red snapper off of New Smyrna Beach, which beat the current Jr. world record by 2 pounds.
Fishing for Dad
From left to right. Robert, Eddie, Michael and Matthew Hinsch from Tampa show off their catches from fishing on their annual remember our dad day, June 9, 2014 fishing aboard contagious in Madeira Beach.
Paying Taxes
Dan D'Alessandro shows the remains of a snapper a 9 foot bullshark enoyed.
Erin's Snapper
Erin D'Alessandro with a red snapper caught off of Ponce Inlet.
Released Red
Carmine D'Alessandro with a nice red snapper that was caught and released 20 miles southeast of Ponce Inlet.
Frances' Red Snapper
Frances Wills shows off a jumbo red snapper caught and released off of St. Augustine.
Dock Full of Fish!
Tim Smith, Bill Sheehan, Jack Flenor, Jerry Vescovo,John Kreusch, Mitch Dreisbach show off their impressive haul while fishing 100 miles off the coast of Crystal River.
Middle Grounds Red
Happy angler shows off a nice red snapper caught while fishing the middlegrounds.
Red snapper
Big ole red snapper caught by FS forum member Stingwray while on a fishing trip with his friends.
Red Snapper
Forum member vlcmsrfr caught this big red snapper along with many others during this years red snapper season.
Huge Red Snapper!
Carson Mccall of Jacksonville caught this huge Red Snapper off of Mexico beach on his Welch's Robo One boat. Nice work!
25 pound Red Snapper!
Florida Sportsman Forum Member J-Rod was able to pull up this nice 25 pound Red Snapper while fishing offshore of the Jacksonville area while fishing in 90 feet of water.
28 pound Red Snapper!
Florida Sportsman Forum Member shared a photo of his friend while they were fishing offshore in 90 feet of water in the Jacksonville area. This Red Snapper was 28 pounds and was a bit of a fight as expected.
Full Days Catch!
Fish Galore with Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, and some Jacks all caught on live bait to help fill up the freezer!
Bradenton Grouper and Snapper
Florida Sportsman Forum Member JEIBE is shown here with his brother with plenty for the table with some Red Snapper and Gag Grouper.
Red snapper
Forum member Keystroke caught this big red snapper on light tackle!
Red Snappers
Creed and Bob wheeler with some awesome red snappers from the three day red snapper season, nice work guys!
Little men, Big Snapper!
Florida Sportsman Forum Member JTR posts his sons holding up a big Red Snapper caught off one of the many reefs in north west Florida.
Destin Snapper
Angler Ashley Vogt Of Fort Walton Beach, FL 33 inch Red Snapper caught in 125 ft of water on 30 lbs main line and 50 lbs leader and spinning reel
Nick and Pauls Red Snappers
Monster red snapper caught 6/8/13 30 miles out of St. Augustine by Nick and Phil Burnett
Nick and Pauls red Snappers
Monster red snapper caught 6/8/13 30 miles out of St. Augustine by Nick and Phil Burnett
American Red off Islalorada
FS member Henry Gonzalez caught this 12 pound American red snapper just offshore of Islamorada. Offshore Islamorada Key with Play Baby Charters.
tat-fish
Jeremy's 16lb snapper was caught in about 65 ft. of water fishing with Capt. Mike Mangum
Best Ever Snapper
Austin Duncan caught this Snapper with his own special made rod. He is 6 yrs old, fishing out of Panama City, Florida aboard the Panacea with Capt. Ray Padgett.
To Florida for Snappers
Florida Sportsman member, RMD, from Wisconsin made a trip to Florida to fish for some red snapper; he caught 5 on the first day.
Red Snapper
This is my 32LB snapper which i caught on my boat out at the Flagler Grounds. We were bottom fishing had a few big breakoffs so i swam a live grunt under a balloon with a4FT leader 20 min later the fight was on. I have caught alot of red snapper in the past but never on top and NEVER the size of this beast. - Capt Bob Collaro
Northeast Snapper
Captain Bob Collaro caught this red snapper in the northeast region.
Red Snapper Galore
FS member, Indianoutlaw, caught this red snapper as well as 9 others that were kept; they also caught another 20 that they released. It was a great day for catching red snapper.
Mayport Princess Red Snapper
Judd Lee caught this red snapper while fishing on the party boat Mayport Princess out of Mayport, FL. He caught it on a chartreuse jighead baited with a spanish sardine.
Red Snapper
Not sure whether this red snapper made it to the fishbox or back to its home underwater, either way, it made someones day.
Red Snappers
Some fat genuine reds right here.
First Red Snapper
There is a first for everything, in this case, a red snapper catch.
Red Snapper
Big genuine American red.
Red Snapper Trolling
Captain Bobby Alleva pulled up this red snapper while trolling for dolphin. "I ran over a rock pile holding a lot of fish. I wasn't set up for bottom fishing but I had to try something so I dropped a 20 pound rig with a 20 pound leader and hooked this bad boy. It took about 10 minutes to get him up from 120 feet of water."
Red Snappers
From FS Member Gamekilla.
Double Red Snapper
FS Member Spineyman posted this nice red snapper doubleheader from off Destin.
Monster Red Snapper
FS Member Home Run caught this big red snapper in the Panhandle.
Panhandle Red Snapper
FS Member brass casing caught this big red snapper in the Panhandle.
Panhandle American Red Snapper
FS Member dscollins62 caught this big red snapper in the Panhandle.
St. Marks Red Snapper
FS Member Jhults11 caught this big red snapper off St. Marks.
Middleburg Red Snapper
FS Member Phinatical posted this red snapper out of Middleburg.
Matanzas Red Snapper
FS Member HARDCORE FISHING caught this red snapper off Matanzas.
Ponce Red Snapper
FS Member Pegleg Pete caught this huge red snapper off Ponce Inlet.
PC Red Snapper
FS Member ACME Ventures Fishing posted this red snapper photo from off PC.
Clearwater Red Snapper
FS Member Jim posted this red snapper photo from 35 miles off Clearwater.
PC Red Snapper
Member ACME Ventures Fishing posted this red snapper photo from off PC.
PC Red Snapper
FS Member QualityTime posted this snapper photo from off PC.
Anna Maria Island Red Snapper
FS Member Sagory posted this red snapper photo, caught offshore of Anna Maria Island.
Red Snapper
FS Member Beck caught this big red snapper in the Panhandle.
Drew's Snapper
12 year old Drew Denis caught his red snapper 60 miles off of Johns pass
Rodger's Snapper
Rodger was able to find that elusive red snapper NOAA keeps looking for.
Red Snapper Catcher
In northwest Florida, red snapper signals anglers to hit their favorite bottom areas.
Red Snapper
Double time on red snapper for this angler.
Catch of the Day
Don't these anglers know that laying all those fish on the ground will attract tourists?
Tina's Red Snapper
Tina Collins from Apollo Beach caught this Red Snapper 40 miles west of St.Pete
Red Snapper Dinner
Four red snapper brought smiles to these anglers.
Red Snapper
Red snapper caught off Mexico Beach, on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Steve, Aaron, and Joe
Red snappers for three lucky Florida anglers.
Brian's Snappers
Even Steinhatchee, Florida, far from deep water, produces fine red snapper (among other species) when the season is open.
