Waterlands

Species guide · Georgia

Red snapper fishing in Georgia

Lutjanus campechanus, an offshore species also called American red snapper, sow snapper and chicken snapper. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA out 20 nm, including Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary at 52, one of 2 Georgia bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Shoulder season
Where it's scoring nowAll Georgia waters

Season by month

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

South Atlantic

Shoulder season, about 32 more weeks
  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: Shoulder season
  3. Mar: Shoulder season
  4. Apr: Shoulder season
  5. May: Peak season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Peak season
  9. Sep: Shoulder season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Shoulder season
  12. Dec: Shoulder season

Peak: May to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

Common on ledges and live bottom from Northeast Florida to the Carolinas. Regulatory: the recreational harvest season has been a few days in July (July 11-12 in 2025); release fish with a descending device the rest of the year.

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

Where it's scoring now · 2

Georgia bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's red snapper score this hour.

1
52Good
Coastal waters from Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA out 20 nm, including Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (57) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (62) · 26 named spots

2
48Good
Coastal waters from Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (57) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (63) · 44 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 58°F to 86°F, best between 64°F and 80°F.
Water depth
40 to 350 ft of water.
Structure
Reef, wreck, ledge, bank and pinnacle, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage matters little offshore. Light current carries chum to the fish and lets baits hold near the structure; strong current makes it hard to stay on a small reef or wreck.
Light
Some lift around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Red snapper school over rigs, wrecks, artificial reefs and natural ledges, mostly in 60 to 250 feet. Anchor or drift over the structure, chum, and drop cut or live cigar minnows, sardines or squid on circle hooks, using as little weight as the current allows. Federal rules require circle hooks with natural bait in the Gulf and a descending device or venting tool on board.

Methods
bottom fishing, chumming, drifting, vertical jigging
Lures
butterfly jigs, bucktail jigs tipped with squid, flat-fall jigs
Bait
cigar minnows, Spanish sardines, squid, cut menhaden, live pinfish

Regulations

GADNR CRD saltwater regulations Buy a Georgia fishing license License types

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division. Synced with GADNR CRD Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed red snapper rule for Georgia is on file yet. Check with GADNR CRD before you keep one.

Other Georgia species