Yellowtail Snapper

Physical description:

The scientific name a of the wellowtail snapper roughly translates to "swift-swimming golden fish". The coloration is characterized by a prominent lateral yellow stripe originating on the snout, widening posteriorly, and covering the caudal fin. The back and upper sides are olive to bluish with yellow irregular spots. The belly and lower sides have narrow longitudinal stripes that are pale red to yellow, and the fins are yellowish.

Biological description:

The yellowtail snapper is distributed from North Carolina to southeastern Brazil, but most abundant in the Bahamas, off south Florida and in the Caribbean. It appears to have the same role in the tropical reef fish community that the vermilion snapper has with reef fish assemblages in the more northerly latitiudes. Both species form schools and are found above the bottom over hard substrates in waters 60-300 feet deep. Spawning takes place from April through August. Most females are sexually mature by age 3, when they are at least 9 inches. The shape of the body and tail and size of the mouth and eye suggest that yellowtail snappers feed differently from most lutjanids. The majority of animals making up the diet are found on the bottom. Most western Atlantic snappers feed predominantly on benthic fish and large invertebrates.

South Atlantic Federal Regulations

(For areas three-200 miles off the coasts of NC, SC, GA, and East Florida)

Commercial:

Limited access permit required.

• 12" TL minimum size limit.
• Must be landed with heads and fins intact.
• Gear restrictions apply.

Recreational:

• 12" TL minimum size limit.
• Bag limit of 10 snappers per person. See recreational retention limits.
• Must be landed with head and fins intact.
• Gear restrictions apply.