Species profile
Mutton Snapper
Lutjanus analis
At a glance
Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) is an IUCN Near Threatened bony-fish species regulated in 2 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Florida); the most generous is 10 (Federal Waters (NOAA)).
Confirmed by 375 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, North Carolina, and Texas the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Mutton snappers can live up to 40 years, making them one of the longer-lived snapper species.
- They can reach 30 inches in length and weigh over 25 pounds at maximum size.
- Found on coral reefs, rocky bottoms, and mangroves from Florida to Brazil in warm Atlantic waters.
- Mutton snappers gather at predictable spawning aggregation sites, making them vulnerable to concentrated fishing pressure.
- They feed opportunistically on fish, shrimp, crabs, and octopus across reef and open-bottom habitats.
Where Mutton Snapper are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Mutton Snapper
Background
The mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Mutton 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.