What's Biting FLMangrove (Gray) Snapper in Big Bend and Nature Coast
Light leaders and small live baits or shrimp around docks, bridges, reefs and mangroves. Summer offshore spawning bite is the peak.
Next seven days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 8 | Strong tide swing 4.8 ft |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 8 | Strong tide swing 4.2 ft |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 6 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.6 ft |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 6 | Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 2.8 ft |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 6 | Strong tide swing 2.3 ft |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 7 | Strong tide swing 2.1 ft |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 7 | Strong tide swing 2.7 ft |
Seasonal pattern
Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 65–88°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state and federal waters unless specified; Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 miles; Atlantic state waters are from shore to 3 miles · Licenses: State Reef Fish Survey
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray (Mangrove) snapper Gulf of America boundaryGulf state waters are from shore to 9 miles | open now Open year-round | State: 10" TL Federal: 12" TL | State: 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit Federal: 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit |
- Reef fish gear requirements apply
- Make sure you're signed up for the State Reef Fish Survey
- Thank you for participating in the 2026 Recreational Atlantic Red Snapper season. The EFP season concluded on October 22nd. FWC is now processing catch information for future management decisions, please continue to report your catch data from this season to help inform those decisions, please check back here for any future updates!
- NEW Recreational Regulations for Gulf Lane Snapper - Effective April 1: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a new 10 inch minimum size limit and 20 fish bag limit for Gulf lane snapper in Gulf state waters. These new regulations go into effect April 1, 2026.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29. Review flags: Gulf Red Snapper season is complex with multiple open/closed segments; closed_periods are inferred from the listed open dates and may not capture all nuances.; Atlantic Red Snapper is listed as Closed for both State and Federal; exact closed dates are not specified, so a full-year closure is assumed.; Species groups (e.g., Black Wenchman, Queen, Blackfin, and Silk; Yellowtail, Dog, and Mahogany) are combined into single entries as presented on the page.; Size limits for Gulf Gray (Mangrove) snapper differ between State (10" TL) and Federal (12" TL) waters; both are represented in size_text.