Red Snapper in Louisiana
Limits, record and places to fish for red snapper.
- 4 a daylimit
- 50.25 lbrecord
Pick for red snapperPiscifun AlinoX 400 baitcaster with bait clicker25% OFFSale $149.99 Photo of the species, not a Louisiana water: Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Where red snapper stand under LDWF rules
In the Sportsman’s Paradise rulebook, red snapper fall under the saltwater entry “Red snapper”. The numbers there: 4 daily per person (subject to change mid-season); 16″ min total length, season 2026 private recreational and state charter season opened may 1, 2026; closed 11:59 p.m. aug. 9, 2026; reopened aug. 27-30 and sept. 4-7, 2026, then closed until further notice. web page (2026-10-28): “currently closed.”.
Top of the LOWA rod and reel list: 50.25 lb by Capt. “Doc” Kennedy, S. Timbalier Blk. 185, 1996.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red snapper | Louisiana state waters | 4 daily per person (subject to change mid-season); 16" min total length | 2026 private recreational and state charter season opened May 1, 2026; closed 11:59 p.m. Aug. 9, 2026; reopened Aug. 27- |
Possession: Same as daily bag limit unless otherwise noted (pamphlet p.28)
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026), page 29 (pamphlet PDF); confirmed on the LDWF saltwater finfish page October 28, 2026.
Dated 2026 notices on red snapper
| From | To | Notice |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | Season opens, seven days a week, 4 fish, 16" TL | |
| May 22, 2026 | May 25, 2026 | Bag limit 5 fish per person per day (Memorial Day weekend) |
| July 2, 2026 | July 5, 2026 | Bag limit 5 fish per person per day (Independence Day weekend); reverts to four on July 6 |
| August 9, 2026 | Closed at 11:59 p.m. | |
| August 27, 2026 | August 30, 2026 | Reopened (4 fish, 16") |
| September 4, 2026 | September 7, 2026 | Reopened, then closed until further notice |
| Final 2026 estimate 934,367 lbs landed, 5.7% (51,928 lbs) above the 882,439-lb allocation; 109 fishing days |
LDWF news releases (LDWF news release Aug. 21, 2026; LDWF news release Aug. 7, 2026; LDWF news release June 29, 2026; LDWF news release Mar. 4, 2026; LDWF news release May 19, 2026; LDWF news release Sept. 21, 2026), read October 28, 2026.
Louisiana state record red snapper
| Division | Method | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| saltwater | Rod & Reel | 50.25 lb | Capt. “Doc” Kennedy | S. Timbalier Blk. 185 | June 1996 |
| saltwater | Fly Fishing | 22.0 lb | Susan Gros | Ship Shoal Blk. 204 | May 2004 |
Close behind the record red snapper
- 39.63 lb, James F. Tomeny, June 1994
- 39.30 lb, Paul Snow, IIIS. Timbalier Blks., June 2004
- 39.13 lb, Mrs. Jessie B. Lane, May 1975
- 39.0 lb, Rennie W. CarterS. Timbalier Blk. 185, July 1998
Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA), LOWA "Louisiana State Fish Records Official Copy", records current through the record awarded September 25, 2026 (PDF created 2026-09-25); read October 28, 2026.
Landing red snapper in Louisiana
Keeping one calls for the free ROLP in addition to Basic and Saltwater licenses.
For charter passengers the vessel's Charter ROLP does the job.
LDWF license and permit list in the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations (LDWF pamphlet, updated September 21, 2026); read October 28, 2026.
More Louisiana fish beside red snapper
- Mutton Snappersaltwater
- Queen Snappersaltwater
- Blackfin Snappersaltwater
- Silk Snappersaltwater
- Cubera Snappersaltwater
- Gray Snappersaltwater
- Yellowtail Snappersaltwater
- Lane Snappersaltwater
- Vermilion Snappersaltwater
Cypress, marsh and open water by Red Snapper, in photos
Photo: Timothy Holdiness, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: rgriff3471, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
red snapper across Louisiana, question by question
How many red snapper go in the Louisiana ice chest?
Under the pamphlet, 4 daily per person (subject to change mid-season); 16" min total length, open 2026 private recreational and state charter season opened may 1, 2026; closed 11:59 p.m. aug. 9, 2026; reopened aug. 27-30 and sept. 4-7, 2026, then closed until further notice. web page (2026-10-28): "currently closed.".
Who holds the Louisiana red snapper record?
50.25 lb out of S. Timbalier Blk. 185; Capt. “Doc” Kennedy, 1996 (rod and reel).
Which lakes or bays list red snapper?
This site has not tied it to a water.
Are red snapper stocked in Louisiana?
It is not among the LDWF stockings on file.
Do any Louisiana waters set their own red snapper rule?
The statewide row holds on every water.
What is the season for red snapper in Louisiana?
Read the season as 2026 private recreational and state charter season opened May 1, 2026; closed 11:59 p.m. Aug. 9, 2026; reopened Aug. 27-30 and Sept. 4-7, 2026, then closed until further notice. Web page (2026-10-28): "currently closed.". Also check the 7 dated notices listed above.
Do nonresidents need a license for Louisiana red snapper?
South of the LDWF saltwater line an angler 18 or older carries a Basic Fishing License plus a Saltwater License: $17 and $15 for residents, $68 and $60 for nonresidents. The ROLP, at no charge, is also required.
What does a red snapper record claim need in Louisiana?
LOWA runs the record list; species are verified by LDWF biologists.