More Seafood

Red Snapper

Red snapper is one of the most sought after American fish. They range from North Carolina to the Florida Keys and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan. Red snapper are bright pinkish-red on the back and head, fading to a silvery whitish below. They may attain lengths of 36 inches or more and weigh up to 50 lbs. Their meat is firm and white, having a mild sweet flavor. Snapper is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein.

Red snapper are primarily harvested with hook and line. Commercial fishermen typically fish a leader armed with multiple hooks which is weighted at the bottom. Red snapper are also harvested with longlines, by spearfishing and other methods that are allowable under current gear restrictions. In 2006, Over 4.5 million pounds of red snapper, valued at over $13 million, were caught commercially in the USA.