Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Also known as Snapper, Genuine red snapper, American reds, Spot snapper
Culinary Profile
Red snapper has a sweetly mild but distinctive flavor.
Red snapper is semi-firm, lean, and moist.
Red snapper is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Red snapper in deeper waters tend to be redder than those caught in shallower waters. They have a long triangular face with the upper part sloping more strongly than the lower. Their jaws are equal, with the lower one sometimes slightly projecting. They have enlarged canine teeth, which is why they are called “snappers.”
Biology
Red snapper grow at a moderate rate, and may reach 40 inches long and 50 pounds. They can live a long time—red snapper as old as 57 years have been reported in the Gulf of America and as old as 51 years in the South Atlantic. Females are able to reproduce as early as age 2. Males and females spawn from May to October, depending on their location.
Where They Live
Range Red snapper are generally found at 30 to 620 feet deep in the Gulf of America and along the eastern coasts of North America, Central America, and northern South America. They are rare north of the Carolinas. Habitat Larval red snapper swim freely within the water column. Juveniles live in shallow waters over sandy or muddy bottom habitat.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
U.S. wild-caught red snapper is available fresh year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from North Carolina to Texas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial sector: In 2023, commercial landings of red snapper totaled approximately 8.3 million pounds and were valued at $43 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear (handlines and electric reels) to harvest red snapper, and sometimes use longlines (in the Gulf of America) and spears. Commercial fishermen using hook and line gear attach multiple hooks to a vertical line and weight it at the bottom. Recreational anglers primarily use hook and line gear to harvest red snapper. Fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools and recompression devices when releasing fish suffering from barotrauma.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Red Snapper ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | 3 µg | 30 / 106 | 72% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 220 mg | 33 / 104 | 68% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 410 mg | 34 / 104 | 67% |
| Zinc | 0.51 mg | 48 / 111 | 57% |
| Protein | 18.51 g | 55 / 111 | 50% |
| Iron | 0.32 mg | 87 / 111 | 22% |
| Phosphorus | 186 mg | 87 / 111 | 22% |
Other Southeast Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Red Snapper.
Blacknose Shark
Carcharhinus acronotus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Panulirus argus
Mild and sweet.
Gag Grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis
Mild but distinct flavor, somewhere between bass and halibut.
Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
The meat of gray triggerfish is uniquely sweet. It tastes more like crab than fish.
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
King mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark, strong-tasting meat a…
Queen Conch
Aliger gigas
Conch has a sweet, slightly smoky flavor, similar to abalone or clam. Fresh, farmed conch is sweeter and more tender tha…
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Spanish mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark, strong-tasting mea…
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Red Snapper, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Red Snapper a lean fish or a rich one?
At 123 kcal per 100 g raw, Red Snapper counts as moderate on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How deep does Red Snapper live?
Red Snapper inhabits depths of 30 to 620 feet. Range Red snapper are generally found at 30 to 620 feet deep in the Gulf of America and along the eastern coasts of North America, Central America, and northern South America. They are rare north of the Carolinas.
How does Red Snapper reproduce?
Red snapper grow at a moderate rate, and may reach 40 inches long and 50 pounds. They can live a long time—red snapper as old as 57 years have been reported in the Gulf of America and as old as 51 years in the South Atlantic. Females are able to reproduce as early as age 2. Males and females spawn from May to October, depending on their location.
How much protein is in 100 g of Red Snapper?
A 100 g raw serving of Red Snapper provides 18.51 g of protein — roughly 37% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
How big does Red Snapper get?
grow at a moderate rate, and may reach 40 inches long and 50 pounds.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught red snapper is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed under rebuilding plans that allow limited harvest by U.S. fishermen.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of red snapper: The Gulf of America stock and the South Atlantic stock. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Gulf of America stock is not overfished but still rebuilding to target levels (2018 stock assessment), and not subject to overfishing based on 2023 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico) stock is not overfished. The South Atlantic stock is overfished, but the fishing rate under a rebuilding plan promotes growth.
Fishing Rate
The Gulf of America stock is not subject to overfishing. The South Atlantic stock is reduced to end overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to harvest red snapper has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations require modified fishing gear to reduce bycatch. Release techniques improve the chance of survival of unintentionally caught fish.
Management
NOAA Fisheries with the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils manage red snapper in the United States. In the Gulf of America, managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of America : A rebuilding plan was implemented in 2005 with the goal of rebuilding the Gulf of America red snapper stock by 2032.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.