What's Biting FL
Space Coast

Red Snapper in Space Coast

Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus · Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, Public domain

Offshore reefs, ledges and wrecks. Live pinfish, cigar minnows and cut bait on bottom rigs. Season is short and strictly regulated, check the rules first.

Next seven days

DayBiteWhy
Fri, Oct 306Strong tide swing 4.6 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)
Sat, Oct 315Breezy 20 mph. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 4.2 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)
Sun, Nov 12Breezy 20 mph. Rain likely 78%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.9 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)
Mon, Nov 23Rain likely 78%. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.6 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)
Tue, Nov 33Strong tide swing 3.4 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)
Wed, Nov 43Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.4 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)
Thu, Nov 53Light wind. Strong tide swing 3.7 ft. Harvest closed in: Atlantic (catch and release)

Seasonal pattern

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 60–85°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 / zoneSeasonSizeBagNotes
Red snapper
Atlantic
boundaryAtlantic state waters are from shore to 3 miles
closed now
State: Closed Federal: Closed
No minimum size limit1 per person (As part of the 10 fish snapper-grouper aggregate bag limit)For more information, please visit the Atlantic Red Snapper State Management Season website

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.

See all Red Snapper rules statewide.