FWC Home : Wildlife & Habitats : Species Information : Saltwater Fish Identification :  Vermilion Snapper

Snappers: Vermilion Snapper

Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS
Rhomboplites aurorubens

Illustrations and Copyright by Diane Rome Peebles
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Description: color of entire body reddish, with a series of short, irregular lines on its sides, diagonal blue lines formed by spots on the scales above the lateral line; sometimes with yellow streaks below the lateral line; large canine teeth absent; orientation of mouth and eye give it the appearance of looking upward; no dark lateral spot.

Similar Fish: red snapper, L. campechanus (anal fin of red snapper has midpoint like a triangle).

Where found: suspends at mid-depths over rocky reefs OFFSHORE.

Size: usually less than 1 pound.

*Florida Record: n/a

Remarks: spawns April to September, females maturing at 3 to 4 years of age; grows slowly; attains weight of 6 pounds and length of 24 inches; feeds on small, swimming crustaceans and mollusks.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.