Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body moderately deep, compressed; color scarlet to red on back and sides, lighter below; dark spot below soft dorsal fin is smaller fish, disappears with age; juveniles with faint dusky vertical bars on sides; eyes red; snout pointed; canine teeth; tooth patch on roof of mouth; anal fin pointed. |
Similar Species |
Coloration similar to silk and blackfin snappers, but pointed anal fin (rounded in blackfin) and red iris (yellow in silk, orange to bronze in blackfin) distinguish this snapper. |
Habitat |
Gulf |
Maximum Size |
80 cm (31 1/2 in), common to 60 cm (23 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
D. X,14; A. III,9 (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
Underwater photo courtesy of TPWD Artificial Reef Marine Species. |
State size/bag limits |
In state waters, minimum size is 15 in.; bag limit is 4, season all year round; in federal waters (outside 9 nautical miles or 10.4 miles in the Gulf) minimum size is 16 in. and bag limit is 2, federal season starts June 1, end of season is determined at a later time depending on reported catches, usually sometime in August; Check for state record. |