Waterlands

Species guide · Alabama

Gray snapper fishing in Alabama

Lutjanus griseus, a nearshore species also called mangrove snapper, mango snapper and black snapper. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Peak season, about 2 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Mississippi Sound at 72, one of 4 Alabama bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Peak season
Where it's scoring nowAll Alabama waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Eastern Gulf

Peak season, about 2 more weeks
  1. Jan: Off season
  2. Feb: Off season
  3. Mar: Off season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Peak season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Shoulder season
  12. Dec: Off season

Peak: Jun to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Nov.

Research notes, Eastern Gulf region

Docks, bridges and seawalls in Tampa Bay and nearshore ledges off the Big Bend and Panhandle; best June through September. Cold snaps push fish deeper and shut the inshore bite.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 4

Alabama bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gray snapper score this hour.

1
72Great
Mississippi Sound

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (73) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 AM (79) · 53 named spots

2
72Great
Perdido Bay Area

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (72) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (75) · 20 named spots

3
72Great
South Mobile Bay

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (72) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 AM (78) · 21 named spots

4
70Great
North Mobile Bay

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (70) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 7 AM (75) · 33 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 62°F to 91°F, best between 74°F and 86°F.
Water depth
3 to 180 ft of water.
Structure
Mangrove, bridge, reef, jetty, ledge, channel, wreck and pier, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water, with moderate current.Inshore fish feed along mangrove edges, bridge pilings and channel drop-offs while the tide runs, and the bite slows at slack. On offshore reefs a light current carries chum and pulls fish up off the bottom.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
18 kt of wind and 4 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Mangrove snapper hold tight to mangrove roots, bridge pilings, jetties and reef ledges, from a few feet deep inshore to 150 feet offshore. Chum to pull them out of cover, then freeline or lightly weight a live shrimp or pilchard on fluorocarbon leader, since they shy away from heavy line in clear water. The bite improves at dusk and after dark.

Methods
bottom fishing, chumming, freelining, light jigging
Lures
small bucktail jigs, jig heads tipped with shrimp
Bait
live shrimp, pilchards, cut ballyhoo, squid, pinfish, fiddler crabs

Regulations

ADCNR Marine Resources saltwater regulations Buy a Alabama fishing license License types

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. Synced with ADCNR Marine Resources Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed gray snapper rule for Alabama is on file yet. Check with ADCNR Marine Resources before you keep one.

Other Alabama species