Red Snapper Fishing Charters

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Recently Booked Red Snapper Fishing Charters

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in South Padre Island

South Padre Island Deep Sea

92% (12)
35 ft 1 - 6 People From $206 / person

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Clearwater

Clearwater Mixed Bag Trip

100% (6)
27 ft 1 - 6 People From $158 / person

Nearshore Fishing Charter in Destin

Half Day Trip - 44' Custom

100% (17)
44 ft 1 - 6 People From $225 / person

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Islamorada

Ocean Thrills With Captain Don

100% (12)
28 ft 1 - 4 People From $175 / person

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Destin

Offshore Blitz: Half-Day Dash

100% (3)
27 ft 1 - 6 People From $174 / person

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Fort Lauderdale

Unforgettable Day Offshore

89% (9)
45 ft 1 - 6 People From $142 / person

Most Popular Types of Red Snapper Trips

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond to provide you an incredible trip, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

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More Red Snapper Fishing Charters

Climb aboard with Captain Mike for an epic half, 3/4, or full-day experience off the coast of the beautiful Florida Keys! Whether you want to spend a half day near-shore, spend some extra time to go off-shore, or even do a little of both, this luxurious 63' custom built sportfisher will meet all your needs. Trolling the open waters can produce hard fighting species like Amberjacks, Sailfish and Mahi. Trolling trips are great because the boat and the knowledge of your captain take care of half the work for you. You get to sit back, relax, enjoy the sweet sea breeze, and rest your arms while you wait for the reel to start screaming and your work to begin! Bottom fishing changes the target species to an entirely different set of fish. You can expect delicious and hard-fighting reef species like Snapper, Grouper and Amberjacks! Captain Mike will provide all the fishing gear you need to catch some picture-worthy fish. All that’s left to do is bring some food, drinks and sunscreen, and cast off with Captain Mike! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Stock Island

Key West Nearshore/Offshore Trip

100% (1)
63 ft 1 - 12 People From $167 / person

Are you ready for the fishing adventure of a lifetime? Come join Captain Steve or Captain Tucker on board their beautiful 34' Crusader sportfishing vessel, and get out there on a thrilling charter fishing trip in the beautiful waters of Clearwater, FL! On this offshore trip, you'll be targeting a range of species across the whole water column. Up towards the surface, you'll troll and cast for Barracuda, Kingfish, Bonito,and Spanish Mackerel, while down on the bottom you'll drop lines for Grouper, Snapper, and Amberjack. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just looking to try your hand at fishing, our experienced captains and crew have got you covered. The 34' Crusader is a purpose-built fishing vessel equipped with top-of-the-line fishing gear, comfortable seating, restrooms, and all the amenities you need for a successful day on the water. Licensed to carry up to 6 passengers, this safe, clean, comfortable vessel carries state-of-the-art Furuno GPS bottom-sounder and radar and is equipped with Coast Guard approved safety equipment, EPIRB radio beacon, life preservers, flares, and throwable life ring. There is a bathroom, tuna tower, outriggers for offshore trolling, fish-fighting chairs, and plenty of seating on board. 4 hour, 5 hour, and 6 hour charters are offered in the morning and afternoon and are generally bottom fishing in winter and trolling in spring, summer, and fall. 8 hour, 10 hour, and 12 hour charters require a morning departure (7am at the latest) and are the perfect length for bottom fishing, trolling, and live baiting. Red snapper season begins June 1st through July and requires a 10 or 12 hour trip! Captain Steve and Captain Tucker have over 35 years of fishing experience out of Clearwater combined, so you'll be in great hands when you set out to bag some fish! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Clearwater

Crushing Clearwater Offshore

100% (4)
34 ft 1 - 6 People From $147 / person

Capt. Scott is a USCG licensed 100 Ton Master Captain and has been fishing and diving the waters out of Ponce Inlet for over 25 years. Capt. Scott has competed in numerous offshore fishing tournaments, winning the Inaugural Fish Stock tournament in 2003 (formally the Striker). My father and grandfather first took me fishing when I was 5 years old. Over the years I have developed a passion and appreciation for the ocean and all the wonders it has to offer. I have caught monster fish, swam with wild dolphins, turtles, sharks and majestic Manta Rays, but most importantly I have experiences and memories that will never be forgotten. Allow me to share my passion with you, your family and friends and help you create the memories that will last a life time. ​ Captain Scott is the owner and operator. Captain Scott is a tournament-winning fisherman, who has been fishing these waters since 1989, and has his 100-ton USCG Captain’s License. Capt. Scott spends several days each week spear fishing, he can see firsthand where the fish are and what various bottom structures actually look like. He also maintains good relationships with other commercial fishermen and captains which provides an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and notes on recent fishing patterns. If you are serious about fishing or would like to introduce your family to a new experience, please give us a call. We look forward to helping you make the memories of a life time. I started fishing when I was 5 years old. In 1989 I moved to Central Florida to attend Stetson University, became a certified scuba diver, and have been diving and fishing out of Ponce Inlet ever since. Although I have landed plenty of monsters, I now find more enjoyment helping others experience the thrill of landing the fish of a lifetime. Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Daytona Beach

Ledges And Reef Run

100% (6)
31 ft 1 - 6 People From $117 / person

Hit the water with Captain Daniel and experience an action-packed day of fishing! This 8, 10, or 12- hour deep-water adventure allows you to target a bigger variety of fish, such as Red Snapper (depending on the season), Mahi Mahi, and Tuna. The crew of Captain Daniel will guide you every step of the way. You will fish for big game fish, troll weed lines, and bottom fish around rocks, wrecks, and structure. The crew especially loves teaching kids and beginners everything about the different fish species available in this area, as well as fishing techniques. Captain Daniel will supply fuel, bait, top-of-the-line rods and reels, tackle, and ice. All you need to bring is a valid Texas Fishing License with a saltwater stamp for those over 16 years of age, food and drinks of your choice (no bananas), and comfortable life jackets if you are traveling with children. Enjoy an incredible day on the water with Captain Daniel! Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Port Aransas

Into The Depths- Captain Daniel

100% (1)
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $333 / person

Head out to Freeport, Texas if you’re in for a true fishing adventure and pay a visit to Captain Rodney! Captain Rodney will show you various reefs and wrecks, all brimming with quality fish and surrounded by beautiful nature. Captain Rodney and his crew will help you chase Blacktip Shark, Cobia, King Mackerel, Red Snapper (depending on the season), and many more fish species. For these 5-hour trips, Captain Rodney chooses between three 27' ProKat catamarans - both provide a truly great fishing experience! These trips are great for families - Captain Rodney loves teaching little ones about the various species that call the Gulf of Mexico home. This trip is different from out nearshore in that we will run out to 9 miles and look for Snapper, Kingfish, Mahi and more. Make sure to bring a valid Texas fishing license as well as snacks and drinks of your choice (no glass). Captain Rodney will provide the rest - rods, reels, tackle, and an icebox for your day’s catch. Enjoy your day on the water with Captain Rodney! Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Freeport

A Nearshore Party In Paradise

100% (5)
27 ft 1 - 6 People From $175 / person

Captain Mark will guide you on a thrilling adventure through the waters of Key West, Florida! You’ll be fishing aboard Captain Mark’s 36-foot sportfisher, which is equipped with two 750 HP engines that will get you out to your destination quickly and seamlessly. She can accommodate up to 6 adventurous anglers and has a GPS, fishfinder, live bait well, and ice box. On this 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12-hour trip, you’ll be targeting a wide variety of species, including Billfish, like White Marlin and Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Mutton Snapper, and Amberjack. You might also catch a few sharks. Prepare yourself to feel the intense power of this apex predator as you reel it in. The longer you go, the farther out you can travel, and the farther out you travel, the bigger the fish get! Don’t forget to bring a cooler to take home your day’s catch, food and drinks for the day (no glass), sunscreen, and a hat. Captain Mark will provide all rods, reels, tackle, and fishing licenses. Let go of your daily responsibilities and have some fun fishing with Captain Mark! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Key West

Key West Fishing Slam

NEW
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $175 / person
See All Red Snapper Trips

Everything to Know About Booking a red snapper fishing charter

What are the best red snapper fishing charters?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 516 red snapper trips, and the most popular trips are South Padre Island Deep Sea guided by Emilio, Clearwater Mixed Bag Trip guided by Gage, and Half Day Trip - 44' Custom guided by Harold.

Our guides are rated a 4.88 out of 5 based on 2408 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly red snapper guides? Check out our beginner and family friendly red snapper guides.

What types of red snapper fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for red snapper as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are bottom fishing, trolling, and heavy tackle fishing but light tackle fishing and jigging are popular as well.

How much do red snapper fishing charters cost?

for red snapper prices can range anywhere from an affordable $275 to $3,000 and up, but the average price for a half day trip for red snapper is $1,256. The average price for a full day trip for red snapper is $3,068.

What month is best for red snapper fishing?

The most popular season for red snapper fishing is summer, and most anglers book their trips 69 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for red snapper and what are the bag limits for red snapper?

See here for more information on red snapper fishing licenses, red snapper bag limits, and fishing season regulations for red snapper. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right red snapper rules and regulations.

What is a red snapper?

The northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a type of snapper most commonly found around the Gulf of Mexico, and is both the most populous and most sought after snapper in the area. It is both an important commercial and recreational fish, and red snapper season is one of the most recognizable times on the gamefish calendar for the area - many anglers have it circled on their calendar half a year ahead of time.

Red snapper are a medium-sized fish and (obviously) very red in color, and red snapper in deeper waters tend to be more red than those that live shallower. While most snapper get their name from their enlarged canine teeth (known as snappers), red snapper actually do not, but still have fairly sharp teeth so be careful handling their mouths.

How big do red snapper get?

Red snapper generally reaches maturity when they reach 15 inches at 2-5 years old, and an average adult might be 20 to 35 inches or more. They can live for up to 50 years, and interestingly will reach maturity faster and at a smaller size in Texas versus other parts of the Gulf. Adults will range from 10 to 20 pounds, and generally deeper water will mean larger fish.

Whats the biggest red snapper ever caught?

The world record red snapper weighed a crazy 50 pounds 4 ounces and was caught off the Louisiana coast by Doc Kennedy in 1996.

Where is the best place to catch red snapper?

While they range all over the Carribbean and up the Atlantic Coast, red snapper are most common and most abundant in the Gulf of Mexico. The most popular places to catch red snapper are in the panhandle of Florida or off the coast of central Texas.

Red snapper live on the bottom, and will inhabit rocky bottoms or other structure and reefs (or artificial reefs like offshore oil rigs). They are social fish and will form large schools where they find good structure, which is why every guide has a series of honey holes of their own where they know schools of snapper are sure to be. Schools also tend to be made up of fish of similar sizes.

Red snapper will generally live between 30-300 feet deep, with bigger fish inhabiting deeper waters further from shore. Their preferred habitat changes as they mature, and while younger fish will inhabit more open areas, older and bigger fish will seek more and more cover.

When should I catch red snapper?

The season for red snapper is interesting because it does not depend on fish behavior, but rather regulations set by the NOAA to set catch limits. The NOAA has set rebuilding plans for red snapper fisheries both in the Gulf of Mexico and on the lower Atlantic Coast, and both of these plans look to rebuild populations into the future. As such, there are annual catch limits, size limits, and season limits for both commercial and recreational anglers. Seasons and limits are set each year, and the federal limit can also differ from state water limits. The total catch limit is generally divided as 49% recreational and 51% commercial.

How do you catch red snapper?

Red snapper will eat almost anything, but live or frozen bait is generally easier than lures, although jigs are definitely still successful. The tricky thing about red snapper is that they tend to nibble rather than swallow, so you need to have a light touch and know when to hook them. The common frustration of many an angler is putting bait after bait down and jigging it only to reel up empty hook after empty hook.

Bigger snapper like structure, so to target them you'll hit reefs, wrecks, and offshore rigs. Sometimes the snapper can be caught by freelining, but generally they will be on the bottom. It goes without saying that if you want to catch a big red snapper, you need to use a big bait, generally a whole squid.

If you are releasing fish, you are required by law to use circle hooks and dehooking devices.

Are red snapper good to eat? What are the best red snapper recipes?

Red snapper might be king of the white fish. It is a prized fish for anglers to catch and eat as well as a prized fish commercially. The texture is firm and slightly sweet and nutty that goes well a number of different ways with a number of different ingredients. Many people will cook it whole or grill it skin-on, which will protect the fish from the flames and help it retain some of its flavor.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    Good trip; Dustin did great in conditions that were not ideal!!

    Michael W. with Dustin K. of Panama City Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    So to put it simply Misty saved the day! We almost didn't make it because of a flat tire. Misty wouldn't think of us missing a day fishing. She picked us up, brought us to her boat with her Captain Alex. Who was incredible with my father. An older man who he treated with great respect and made sure that this was the fishing trip on a lifetime. He was knowledgeable funny and gracious. We actually got tired from catching so many fish. Did I mention their boat? There are 34" SeaVee gave me boat envy. I can't say enough about these two people who went above and beyond to make sure that we had a fantastic day. At the end of the day, Misty took us back to her car, which by now it was fixed. Because of this wonderful person we didn't miss a thing. Thank you.!

    Reg T. with Misty W. of Clearwater, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had an awesome fishing trip with Captain Richie and Mikey! It was our first deep sea fishing experience and one to remember!

    Molly P. with Richie R. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Chris and Daniel were awesome. Caught a lot of fish and had a lot of fun. Provided rods and a variety of bait. Went on the 6 hour trip and it was plenty. If you want bigger fish then maybe go for the 8 hour

    Alex V. with Chris S. of Gulfport, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Chris was awesome! Put us on the perfect spots and we limited out! His boat was very clean, he shared with our kids some tricks to snatching the fish quickly! Highly recommend!

    Todd H. with Chris E. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Top notch!! Chris took our family out for an awesome day!! We limited out on mackerel and caught several other species as well!! He is a first rate captain for sure!!

    Todd H. with Chris E. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Wonderful, wonderful trip! Brandon, Christian and Hugo are wonderful and made sure we caught fish! Highly recommend these folks.

    Eric S. with Leonardo G. of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo

  • ★★★★★
    I have been on several guided trips in Mexico and Florida. I can say hands down this was the best. Yes, we caught a bunch of fish, more so, the guys worked their asses off and we’re fun to be around! Thanks Mike!

    Steve O. with Mike M. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    5 stars no doubt! Our family had a great fishing trip with Jeremy! He put us on the fish all day, and we will definitely book again with him.

    Lyndsey O. with Jeremy V. of Panama City Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had a fantastic time with captain Brad. We tried different techniques and despite being a rough choppy day we still have out with a lot of fish. We all enjoyed it and highly recommend him to anyone!

    Shai K. with Brad S. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    I hate reviews that don’t give you all the info you need. Emilio and his crew hand did a great job they brought us to a few spot that put us on 5-10 fish at a time the boat got us where we needed to go 5-10 miles out from the docks the squid bate was decent the rods were all usable there was a restroom on board In all especially for the price I would definitely take this charter again during the summer!!! Timing matters when fishing!

    Brayden L. with Emilio S. of South Padre Island, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Corey was fantastic! Went out of his way to get the “right” bait (which it was!). We caught enough fish, on a really windy day, for the kids to have wonderful memories. He’s great with kids, has plenty of interesting stories and just a pleasure to be around. Book with Corey! You won’t regret it!

    Rick A. with Corey B. of Rockport, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    Even though the weather did not cooperate at first, Captain John John was able to work things out and get us out on the water for an amazing trip! Had lots of fun, heard some crazy tales and caught many species of fish. Our deck hand Drew did an fantastic job as well. Such an amazing experience, thank you guys, we will definitely set up future fishing trips with Kingslayer Charters.

    Eric G. with John C. of Panama City, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Wayne was great. First place we stopped, three of the four of us had bites on our 1st cast. Two reeled in fish within 3 minutes.

    Larry B. with Wayne A. of Niceville, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Tons of fun, caught tons of fish!

    Jonah J. with Zachary W. of Destin, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Thanks, Corey. You are a good Captain. The Sheepshead filets were great and the day on the boat was fantastic. Too bad the fishing wasn’t better. Thanks for spending the extra time. The Krall Fsmily

    Clayton K. with Corey B. of Port Aransas, Texas

  • ★★★★★
    We had a good trip with Capt. Don. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We did have to cut our trip short, as one of our party got sea sick. Thanks Capt. Don. (He is also a veteran).

    Harry B. with Don R. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time Great crew Great results!!!!! Captain Dave and Markus were top notch! we landed on fish right out of the gate. Captain Dave was very knowledgeable and very patient. He knew what he was doing and was absolutely entertaining. Markus is a great dude. He is very polite and extremely knowledgeable as well. I would absolutely recommend using this Charter service for your fishing adventures!!! Robert Crossley

    Robert C. with Mike M. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    I recommend that you choose Aaron as your captain. It was an awesome experience and definitely will be doing it again when we come to Daytona. Aaron made it a fun and safe adventure. Caught a lot of fish! Even good for first timmers!

    Ricardo N. with Aaron H. of Port Orange, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    They put us on fish the entire trip. It was a great day on the water. I would definitely book with them again

    Jacob P. with Heather H. of Clearwater, Florida

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View Red Snapper Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

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