Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Also Known As
Snapper, Beeliner, Clubhead snapper, Night snapper, Besugo, Rubia
Quick Facts
Region
Southeast
Vermilion snapper. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/FishWatch
Vermilion snapper. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/FishWatch
About the Species
U.S. wild-caught vermilion snapper is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Population
The South Atlantic and Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico) stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impact
Most vermilion snapper are caught using hook-and-line gear, which has minimal impact on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
- There are five stocks of vermilion snapper: South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and three stocks contained in the Puerto Rico Snapper 1 Complex, the St. Croix Snapper 1 Complex, and the St. Thomas/St. John Snapper 1 Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments:
- The South Atlantic stock is not overfished (2018), and is not subject to overfishing based on 2023 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- The Gulf of America stock is not overfished (2020), and is not subject to overfishing based on 2023 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
- In Puerto Rico, vermilion snapper is contained in the Puerto Rico Snapper 1 Complex. Scientists have not assessed the Puerto Rico Snapper 1 Complex, so the population status is unknown. The Puerto Rico Snapper 1 Complex is not subject to overfishing based on 2021 catch data.
- In St. Croix, vermilion snapper is contained in the St. Croix Snapper 1 Complex. Scientists have not assessed the St. Croix Snapper 1 Complex, so the population status is unknown. The St. Croix Snapper 1 Complex is not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
- In St. Thomas/St. John, vermilion snapper is contained in the St. Thomas/St. John Snapper 1 Complex. Scientists have not assessed the St. Thomas/St. John Snapper 1 Complex, so the population status is unknown. The St. Thomas/St. John Snapper 1 Complex is not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Appearance
- Vermilion snapper have streamlined bodies.
- They are pale to silvery white below and vermilion (orange-red) above. They have narrow, yellow-gold streaks (some horizontal and others diagonal) below the lateral line.
- Their back (dorsal) fin is rose-colored with a yellow edge, and the tail (caudal) fin is red with a faint black edge.
Biology
- Vermilion snapper grow slowly, up to 2 feet long and 7 pounds.
- They can live to at least 15 years.
- Vermilion snapper are able to reproduce when they’re young, between 1 and 2 years old.
- They spawn multiple times from April to September, but most often from June to August.
- Vermilion snapper eat fish, shrimp, crabs, worms, and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates, as well as squids and plankton (tiny floating plants and animals).
Where They Live
Range
Vermilion snapper are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to southeastern Brazil, including the West Indies, Gulf of America, and Caribeean Sea.
Habitat
- Vermilion snapper are found in waters 60 to 400 feet deep, but are most abundant in water less than 180 feet deep.
- They live on the seafloor, and are commonly found over rock, gravel, or sand bottoms near the edge of the continental and island shelves.
- They often swim in large schools but do not travel very far.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries, the South Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, and the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, manage the vermilion snapper fishery.
- In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan:
- Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest vermilion snapper.
- The number of available permits is limited to control fishing pressure on vermilion snapper.
- Annual catch limits divided between the commercial and recreational sectors.
- The commercial quota is divided into two 6-month fishing seasons.
- Seasons can close early if quotas are reached.
- Trip limits for commercial vessels.
- Minimum size limit to allow fish time to mature and spawn.
- Areas closed to fishing to protect a portion of the vermillion snapper population and their habitat.
- Gear restrictions prohibit the use of trawls, traps, and longlines (in some areas) to reduce bycatch.
- In the Gulf of America, managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of America:
- Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest vermilion snapper.
- Annual catch limit combined for the commercial and recreational fishery.
- Seasons can close early if the catch limit is projected to be reached.
- Minimum size limit to allow fish time to mature and spawn.
- Gear requirements and restrictions to reduce bycatch.
- Areas closed to fishing to protect sensitive fish populations and habitats.
- In the U.S. Caribbean, managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan, and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan:
- Managed with other snappers under each fishery management plan: Snapper 1 complex in Puerto Rico (black, blackfin, silk, vermilion, and wenchman snappers), Snapper 1 complex in St. Croix (black, blackfin, silk, and vermilion snappers), and Snapper 1 complex (black, blackfin, silk, and vermilion snappers) in St. Thomas and St. John.
- Commercial and recreational annual catch limits for the Snapper 1 complex in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits for the two Snapper 1 complexes in St. Croix and St. Thomas/S. John.
- Included in the recreational bag limit for select reef fish: 5 fish per person/day, of which no more than 2 may be parrotfish, or if 3 or more persons are aboard, 15 fish total per vessel/day, of which no more than 6 may be parrotfish.
- Seasonal closure for vermilion snapper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John from October 1 through December 31 each year.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2023, commercial landings of vermilion snapper in the Gulf of America and South Atlantic totaled 1.8 million pounds and were valued at $7.2 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. More than a third of these landings were harvested off the west coast of Florida.
- Vermilion snapper is one of the most frequently caught snappers along the southeastern coast.
- Seasonal closure in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean and in territorial waters of St. Thomas/St. John from October through December.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- In all regions, commercial fishermen primarily use vertical hook-and-line gear (handline and bandit gear) to catch vermilion snapper.
- Although it has minimal impacts on habitat, hook-and-line gear can incidentally catch other finfish.
- Fishermen in the Gulf of America and South Atlantic are required to use circle hooks in certain areas and de-hooking devices to improve the chance of survival of any unintentionally caught fish.
- In the Gulf of America, fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools or fish descenders when fish are caught showing signs of barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when reef fish are quickly brought to the surface by hook-and-line gear and the gas in their swimbladders overexpands. Venting tools help deflate the expanded abdominal cavity, preventing serious injury to the fish and easing their return to deep water. Fish descenders help fish return to deeper waters so air in the abdomen can recompress.
- Fish traps, gill nets, and bottom longlines can generate bycatch. There are restrictions limiting or prohibiting the use of these gears in the South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and U.S. Caribbean to reduce bycatch.
- Recreational fishery:
- Vermilion snapper are a popular catch for recreational fishermen.
- In 2023, recreational anglers landed 3.4 million pounds of vermilion snapper, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
- Minimum size limits
- Bag limits
- Seasonal closure in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean and in territorial waters of St. Thomas/St. John from October through December.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification
Vermilion snapper are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to southeastern Brazil, including the West Indies, Gulf of America, and Caribeean Sea.
- Vermilion snapper are found in waters 60 to 400 feet deep, but are most abundant in water less than 180 feet deep.
- They live on the seafloor, and are commonly found over rock, gravel, or sand bottoms near the edge of the continental and island shelves.
- They often swim in large schools but do not travel very far.
Fishery Management
- NOAA Fisheries, the South Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, and the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, manage the vermilion snapper fishery.
- In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan:
- Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest vermilion snapper.
- The number of available permits is limited to control fishing pressure on vermilion snapper.
- Annual catch limits divided between the commercial and recreational sectors.
- The commercial quota is divided into two 6-month fishing seasons.
- Seasons can close early if quotas are reached.
- Trip limits for commercial vessels.
- Minimum size limit to allow fish time to mature and spawn.
- Areas closed to fishing to protect a portion of the vermillion snapper population and their habitat.
- Gear restrictions prohibit the use of trawls, traps, and longlines (in some areas) to reduce bycatch.
- In the Gulf of America, managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of America:
- Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest vermilion snapper.
- Annual catch limit combined for the commercial and recreational fishery.
- Seasons can close early if the catch limit is projected to be reached.
- Minimum size limit to allow fish time to mature and spawn.
- Gear requirements and restrictions to reduce bycatch.
- Areas closed to fishing to protect sensitive fish populations and habitats.
- In the U.S. Caribbean, managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan, the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan, and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan:
- Managed with other snappers under each fishery management plan: Snapper 1 complex in Puerto Rico (black, blackfin, silk, vermilion, and wenchman snappers), Snapper 1 complex in St. Croix (black, blackfin, silk, and vermilion snappers), and Snapper 1 complex (black, blackfin, silk, and vermilion snappers) in St. Thomas and St. John.
- Commercial and recreational annual catch limits for the Snapper 1 complex in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits for the two Snapper 1 complexes in St. Croix and St. Thomas/S. John.
- Included in the recreational bag limit for select reef fish: 5 fish per person/day, of which no more than 2 may be parrotfish, or if 3 or more persons are aboard, 15 fish total per vessel/day, of which no more than 6 may be parrotfish.
- Seasonal closure for vermilion snapper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John from October 1 through December 31 each year.
Harvest
- Commercial fishery:
- In 2023, commercial landings of vermilion snapper in the Gulf of America and South Atlantic totaled 1.8 million pounds and were valued at $7.2 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. More than a third of these landings were harvested off the west coast of Florida.
- Vermilion snapper is one of the most frequently caught snappers along the southeastern coast.
- Seasonal closure in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean and in territorial waters of St. Thomas/St. John from October through December.
- Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch:
- In all regions, commercial fishermen primarily use vertical hook-and-line gear (handline and bandit gear) to catch vermilion snapper.
- Although it has minimal impacts on habitat, hook-and-line gear can incidentally catch other finfish.
- Fishermen in the Gulf of America and South Atlantic are required to use circle hooks in certain areas and de-hooking devices to improve the chance of survival of any unintentionally caught fish.
- In the Gulf of America, fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools or fish descenders when fish are caught showing signs of barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when reef fish are quickly brought to the surface by hook-and-line gear and the gas in their swimbladders overexpands. Venting tools help deflate the expanded abdominal cavity, preventing serious injury to the fish and easing their return to deep water. Fish descenders help fish return to deeper waters so air in the abdomen can recompress.
- Fish traps, gill nets, and bottom longlines can generate bycatch. There are restrictions limiting or prohibiting the use of these gears in the South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and U.S. Caribbean to reduce bycatch.
- Recreational fishery:
- Vermilion snapper are a popular catch for recreational fishermen.
- In 2023, recreational anglers landed 3.4 million pounds of vermilion snapper, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database.
- Minimum size limits
- Bag limits
- Seasonal closure in federal waters of the U.S. Caribbean and in territorial waters of St. Thomas/St. John from October through December.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Actinopterygii | Order | Perciformes | Family | Lutjanidae | Genus | Rhomboplites | Species | aurorubens |
|---|
Featured News
The catch from a headboat during the early days of the survey. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Barotrauma expands gasses in a fish causing the air bladder and other organs to expand as well, making it difficult for fish to swim after release. Credit: NOAA Fisheries, Florida SeaGrant
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Seafood Facts
Is Vermilion Snapper Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught vermilion snapper is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round, with peaks from August through November.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from North Carolina to Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Taste
Mild and sweet.
Texture
Medium-firm texture with medium flakes.
Health Benefits
Vermilion snapper is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 100 ; Protein: 20.51 g; Total Fat: 1.34 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.285 g; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 37 mg; Selenium: 38.2 mcg; Sodium: 64 mgSnapper Recipes
Looking for ways to add white fish like snapper into your rotation? If you need cooking inspiration, browse these recipes for sautéed snapper, seafood stew, and more!
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