Fish guide
Gray Snapper
Lutjanus griseus. Also called Mangrove snapper, Mango snapper.
Showing the fish for Southeast Florida, Fort Pierce to Miami.
Season in Southeast Florida
Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
FWC Where to Saltwater Fish: mangrove snapper year-round (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade). FWC: spawning June to August. Juno Bait: early arrivals inshore in April, best at night on the outgoing tide in August, a good number in Jupiter Inlet in September. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Space Coast | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Florida Keys | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southwest Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Tampa Bay | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Jupiter Inlet and Intracoastal structure on small live pilchards and live shrimp, best at night around the top of the outgoing tide (Juno Bait); Juno Beach Pier when snapper push in.
Tight to structure: rocks, pilings, docks, mangrove edges and reefs.
What to look for
Schools holding beside structure by day; bridge and dock lights at night.
What to throw
Bait
Live shrimp, Small live pilchards. .
Leader
Common mistakes
- Fishing open sand away from structure
- Fishing only at midday; adults feed mostly at night (Florida Museum)
Landing
Pull a hooked fish away from the rocks or pilings quickly, then swing small fish up.
Handling
- Two large canine teeth in the upper jaw (FWC)
Grip behind the head and unhook with pliers; keep fingers out of the mouth.
Keep or release
Size and bag rules differ by state and between state and federal waters; see the regulations file.
Typical: Rarely over 18 in (Florida Museum). Large: Common to 24 in and 10 lb; offshore fish commonly 8 to 10 lb (FWC).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- Florida FWC: Where to Saltwater Fish (species and seasons by county, Nassau to Monroe) (Official source)
- Florida FWC species profile: gray snapper (Official source)
- Juno Bait and Tackle, Easter Weekend Fishing Outlook, April 17 2025 (Angler knowledge)
- Juno Bait and Tackle, Weekend Fishing Outlook, August 14 2026 (Todd Mitchell) (Angler knowledge)
- Juno Bait and Tackle, Weekend Fishing Outlook, September 8 2022 (Angler knowledge)
- Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: gray snapper (Official source)
Is gray snapper worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
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