Species profile
Gray Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
At a glance
Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Florida); the most generous is 10 (Florida).
Across 3 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 10.7 in.
Confirmed by 3,804 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and Alabama the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Gray snappers tolerate low-salinity brackish and near-freshwater environments, unusual for a reef fish species.
- Widely called mangrove snapper, juveniles routinely shelter among mangrove prop roots and seagrass beds.
- Notoriously wary, they've earned a reputation as one of the most difficult snappers to hook.
- Can live over 25 years, with adults reaching 18 inches in productive reef and estuarine habitats.
- They are nocturnal hunters, becoming active after dark to pursue fish, shrimp, and crabs.
Where Gray Snapper are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Gray Snapper
Background
The mangrove snapper or gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) is a species of snapper native to the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including brackish and fresh waters. It is commercially important, as well as being sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Gray Snapper article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.