Species profile
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
At a glance
Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (Florida); the most generous is 10 (Louisiana).
Across 5 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 10.2 in.
Confirmed by 71 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and North Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Anglers nicknamed them 'beeliners' for the way they race up to take a bait.
- They typically live at depths of 60 to 300 feet over hard or rocky bottom.
- Vermilion snappers can live more than 20 years in the wild.
- Most caught specimens measure 10 to 16 inches, though they can reach up to 24 inches.
- Their mild white flesh and schooling behavior make them a favorite target in the Gulf of Mexico.
Where Vermilion Snapper are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Vermilion Snapper
Background
The vermilion snapper or beeliner, Rhomboplites aurorubens, is a species of snapper native to the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Bermuda including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to Brazil. This species inhabits waters from 40 to 300 m (130 to 980 ft) (though rarer deeper than 100 m (330 ft)) where they can be found in large schools over substrates of sand, gravel, or…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Vermilion 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.