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The Florida Keys, particularly the Middle Keys, also boast a nice collection of deep drop fish, including trophy queen snapper.
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The continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico west of the southwest Florida coast is a very good place to start, with Pulley Ridge one of the best areas on the planet to target these fish. Hot Spots: Despite their broad documented range, queen snapper are really only available in a few regions for Floridians.
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In both Atlantic and Gulf federal waters, these fish are monitored on a strict catch limit. Sharks, larger grouper and more won’t hesitate to take down an easy meal in the form of a queen snapper.Ĭonservation Status: Unlike pelagic game fish that reach sexual maturity quickly and reproduce frequently in mass quantities, bottom fish like queen snapper take a bit longer and are therefore more susceptible to overfishing. Predators: Like many game fish roaming the depths, queen snapper are prone to predation from a variety of hunters, showing the most vulnerability from their larval to juvenile stages in life. They are opportunistic feeders but show a particular fondness for small finfish and crustaceans roaming the seafloor. With streamlined bodies, forked tails, small teeth and large eyes, they are ideally suited for hunting in the dark depths. Minimum Size Limit: None open year-round in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico federal waters, though managed under an annual harvest limit.įeeding: Queen snapper are known for their beauty, but they are also excellent hunters. However, these fish are concentrated in the southern reaches of their distribution, particularly in The Bahamas. Range: Native to the western Atlantic, queen snapper inhabit deep water, usually 400 to 1,500 feet or even deeper, from North Carolina down throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico all the way south to Brazil. The large eyes and deeply forked tails are also quite striking. As a result, they excel on the dinner plate with a variety of cooking methods, but don’t discount ceviche or sashimi.Īppearance: Known widely as one of the most beautiful fish out there, queen snapper display incredible red coloration from their dorsal fins to their bellies, where it eventually fades to a light pink on their undersides. These fish yield firm white fillets that are very mild in flavor and produce an incredible texture. PHOTOGRAPHY: Captain Matt Arnholtįood Value: All snapper species provide excellent table fare, but queen snapper is largely seen as one of the absolute best. When it comes to appearance, the queen is unique and easily distinguishable in its home waters, though the ruby snapper (Etelis carbunculis) looks very similar and roams similar depths in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Similar Species: Members of the family Lutjanidae that comprises all snapper species, queen snapper bear many similarities to other snapper and often share the same habitat. Preferred Water Temperature: 61°-64° Fahrenheit
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Naturally, you’ll find larger fish in areas that receive less pressure from anglers. Size: Though many anglers encounter these fish from 5 to 15 pounds, they are capable of growing to weights over 20 pounds. Daily Bag Limit: Included in the 10-snapper aggregate for Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico federal waters.