WIKI › SPECIES › VERMILION SNAPPER

Vermilion Snapper (Beeliner)

Rhomboplites aurorubens

Offshore TABLE: Excellent DIFFICULTY

Slender, bright vermilion-red snapper with a forked tail and fine yellow streaks; smaller mouth and eye than red snapper. Galveston 'beeliners' usually run 0.5-2 lb, better fish to 3-4 lb on the banks.

⚖ Texas & federal limits
Bag, size and season rules apply — several offshore species run on federal seasons that open and close by the year. Check the current TPWD Outdoor Annual →.

On the water

WhenYear-round on the banks; a key target when red snapper season is closed. They feed up in the water column, so the bite can be strong midday. Calm days for the longer offshore runs.WhereMid-shelf and deeper hard bottom, banks, and rigs, often deeper than the reds - commonly 120-300 ft on offshore banks (Claypile, Stetson, Flower Garden area) and floaters. Also mixed with red snapper on nearshore relief.HowDrop multi-hook bottom rigs (chicken rigs) with small baits; because vermilion suspend, count down and fish a few feet off bottom. Small vertical jigs and sabiki-style rigs with cut bait load up fast. Chumming brings them up the column.BehaviorSchooling, mid-water plankton/bait feeders that suspend above hard bottom and structure; they rise readily to chum and baited hooks.The fightQuick, rattling headshakes; light but persistent, especially in deep water.

Baits that work

Tackle

Rod & reelMedium conventional/spinning, 6.5-7 ft; electric reels common for deep-bank fishingLine30-50 lb braidLeader30-40 lb fluoroTerminalNon-offset circle hooks 1/0-4/0 - required for reef fish in Gulf federal watersRigMulti-hook chicken rig with 4-12 oz sinker sized to depth/current

The bait clock

☀ DawnSmall squid pieces on multi-hook chicken rig
Beeliner schools feed in the water column at first light over hard bottom.
☼ MiddaySquid bits or cut mackerel on small hooks
A steady all-day bite once you're on the right depth (150 ft+) and structure.
☾ DuskSquid strips fished mid-depth
Schools often rise off bottom late in the day, improving the drift bite.
★ NightSquid on small hooks
Vermilions feed at night and fill boxes on overnight deep-water trips.

[{'months': [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10], 'note': 'Best on deeper (150-300 ft) banks in the warm months when seas allow the run.'}]

Purely depth/structure-driven; time of day makes little difference.

Don’t confuse it with

Red SnapperRed SnapperDIFFERENT LIMIT

Beeliners are slim, small-mouthed, with a lunate tail and a yellow-streaked flank; red snapper are deep-bodied with a pointed anal fin and a red iris. Reds carry a minimum and a tight federal season.

Not sure? Point the Fish ID camera at it →

Keep or release

Handling & releaseCaught from deep water, so barotrauma is common. Use a descending device or venting tool per the DESCEND Act; never puncture the stomach. Recompress quickly for release.On the tableExcellent white, mild fillet - many prefer it to red snapper.As baitNot usually - kept for the table.

The bar to beat

Texas state record6.84 lb · 25.25″ — Fan Hou ChunGulf of Mexico, TX, 2022
World record9.25 lb — Jacob T. FeltsGulf of Mexico off Keaton Beach, FL, 2022

Records as compiled in the IronJetty guide (Aug 2026) — verify current marks with TPWD records / IGFA. World record 9 lb 4 oz (IGFA-approved 2023) broke a 35-year-old record.

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