campechanus in a primarily artificial reef environment off the coast of Alabama, US: TL(age) = 1,025 (1 – e^( -0.15 age)), N=409, R = 0.96. These values are for inputs of length in cm and result in weight in kg. Diaz reported that for red snapper, c=0.000010 and b=3.076. Invariably, b is close to 3.0 for all species, and c is a constant that varies among species. The relationship between total length (L, in inches) and total weight (W, in pounds) for nearly all species of fish can be expressed by an equation of the form: As northern red snapper grow longer, they increase in weight, but the relationship between length and weight is not linear. campechanus for the National Marine Fisheries Service (US).

Growth pattern with age of red snapper (equations from Szedlmayer & Shipp, 1994) ĭiaz reported weight vs. The largest red snapper spread out over open habitats, as well as reefs. These larger fish do not allow smaller individuals to share this territory. Around artificial reefs such as oil platforms, smaller fish spend time in the upper part of the water column while more mature (and larger) adults live in deeper areas. As they near one year of age, they move to intermediate-relief habitats as the previous year's fish move on to high-relief reefs with room for more individuals. Newly hatched red snapper spread out over large areas of open benthic habitat, then move to low-relief habitats, such as oyster beds. The preferred habitat of this species changes as it grows and matures due to increased need for cover and changing food habits. These schools are usually made up of fish of very similar size. Like most other snappers, northern red snapper are gregarious and form large schools around wrecks and reefs. They stay relatively close to the bottom, and inhabit rocky bottoms, ledges, ridges, and artificial reefs, including offshore oil rigs and shipwrecks. This species commonly inhabits waters from 9–60 m (30–200 ft), but can be caught as deep as 90 m (300 ft) on occasion. In Latin American Spanish, it is known as mero, huachinango, pargo, or chillo. The northern red snapper is found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the southeastern Atlantic coast of Mexico and the United States and much less commonly northward as far as Massachusetts. Juvenile fish (shorter than 30–35 cm) can also have a dark spot on their sides, below the anterior soft dorsal rays, which fades with age. It has 10 dorsal spines, 14 soft dorsal rays, three anal spines and eight to 9 anal soft rays. Ĭoloration of the northern red snapper is light red, with more intense pigment on the back. The maximum published weight is 50 lb, 4 oz (22.79 kg) and the oldest reported age is 100+ years. The common adult length is 60 cm (24 in), but may reach 100 cm (39 in). This snapper reaches maturity at a length of about 39 cm (15 in). They are rather large and are red in color. Northern red snapper have short, sharp, needle-like teeth, but they lack the prominent upper canine teeth found on the mutton, dog, and mangrove snappers. All feature a sloped profile, medium-to-large scales, a spiny dorsal fin, and a laterally compressed body. The northern red snapper's body is very similar in shape to other snappers, such as the mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, lane snapper, and dog snapper.

Snapper fish