STATE
FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
Separate from Gulf aggregate, 10/person.
reef
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus
Keys signature. Chum hard, drift small baits back, light fluoro. Best on outgoing tide off the reef tract.
Preferred water temp70–85°F
Preferred depth30–200 ft
Peak monthsApr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Holds oncoral reefs, patch reefs, current edges
In our regions
Central/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandLouisiana Gulf
Regulations
⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 26, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.
Showing 12 of 12 regulations
MS_GULF
Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
MS: 12" TL, within 10-snapper aggregate.
FEDERAL
Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
Federal South Atlantic: 12" TL min, within 10-fish snapper aggregate.
STATE
FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
10/person SEPARATE from the snapper aggregate in FL state Atlantic waters. Federal waters: counts within 10-fish aggregate.
SC_ATLANTIC
South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
Within group aggregate.
SC yellowtail: 10/day, 12" TL.
FEDERAL
Federal Gulf (9–200 nm) — GMFMC
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
Federal Gulf: 12" TL min, within 10-fish reef-fish/snapper aggregate.
BAHAMAS
Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Vessel limit
- 20 total / vessel / day
- Minimum
- 10″ TL (total length)
10 per angler per day, max 20 per vessel. Chum + light tackle on the reef.
LA_GULF
Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
LA: 12" TL, within 10-snapper aggregate.
AL_GULF
Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
GMFMC: 12" TL, within 10-snapper aggregate.
NC_ATLANTIC
North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
Follows SAFMC: 12" TL, within 10-snapper aggregate.
GA_ATLANTIC
Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
Follows SAFMC: 12" TL, within 10-snapper aggregate.
TX_GULF
Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD
Currently OPENOpen year-round
- Bag limit
- 10 / angler / day
- Minimum
- 12″ TL (total length)
TX: federal limits — 12" TL, within snapper aggregate.