Big Bend and Nature Coast
Mangrove (Gray) Snapper in Big Bend and Nature Coast
Light leaders and small live baits or shrimp around docks, bridges, reefs and mangroves. Summer offshore spawning bite is the peak.
Next three days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 13 | 10 | New Moon feeding boost. Light wind. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.6 ft |
| Mon, Sep 14 | 9 | Light wind. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.8 ft |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 8 | Breezy 18 mph. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky. Strong tide swing 3.8 ft |
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 65–88°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: state and adjacent federal waters · Licenses: State Reef Fish Survey registration required
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray (Mangrove) Snapper Gulf of America boundarystate and federal waters unless specified; Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 miles | open now Open year-round | State: 10" TL; Federal: 12" TL | State: 5 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit; Federal: 10 per person within the 10 snapper aggregate bag limit |
- Reef fish gear requirements apply
- Make sure you're signed up for the State Reef Fish Survey
- Return ‘Em Right resource available for best release practices
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-09-12. Review flags: Gulf Red Snapper closed periods are derived from the specific open days listed for the Fall season; exact closed dates between open windows are inferred based on the calendar structure provided.; Lane Snapper Gulf regulations note a change effective April 1, 2026; current page text reflects the new limits (10" min, 20 bag) for State waters.