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Other Taxonomic Groupings:
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Subclass: Neopterygii
Infraclass: Teleostei
Superorder: Acanthopterygii
Potentially
Misidentified Species:
Lutjanus synagris is similar to a related species, the mutton snapper, L. analis.
The two are distinguished based on the shape of the anal fin: L.
synagris has a rounded anal fin, while L. analis has a pointed
anal fin.
Species Description:
Lutjanus synagris is and oblong, somewhat compressed snapper with a moderately deep
body. It may grow to a length of 36 60 cm (14 24 inches). The dorsal fin
is continuous with 10 thin spines, the fourth of which is the longest. The soft
portion of the dorsal fin has 12-13 rays and is somewhat angulate posteriorly.
The caudal fin is emarginate. The anal fin is rounded with 3 spines, the second
of which is more robust than the third, but of equal length. There are 8-9 soft
anal rays. The pectoral fins are short, not reaching to the anus. Scales are
small and ctenoid, with 47-52 lateral line scales. There are 13-14 gill rakers
on the lower limb of gill arch. The head profile is nearly straight from the
pointed snout to the nape of the neck. The mouth is large and terminal, with a
band of villliform teeth on both jaws and the vomer. The upper jaw also has 4
canine teeth, 2 of which are enlarged. The preopercule is finely serrate
superiorly with coarser spines at the angle. Body color is variable but
typically a silver to silver-pink or reddish. The dorsal surface is often
tinged with green and darker vertical bars. A series of 7-10 yellow horizontal
stripes run along the sides, while diagonal yellow lines run above the lateral
line. The anal fins, pelvic fins and the distal portion of the dorsal fin are
yellow. The proximal portion of dorsal fin is reddish. A diffuse black spot,
larger than the eye, is set above the lateral line but below the soft dorsal fin
II. HABITAT AND
DISTRIBUTION
Regional Occurrence:
In the Western Atlantic, Lutjanus synagris ranges from approximately
North Carolina south to Brazil including Bermuda, the Gulf of
Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is most abundant near the
Antilles, off Panama, and on the northern coast of
South America.
IRL Distribution:
Juveniles are common in inshore areas where they utilize seagrass beds as
nursery habitats. Small adults are found within the IRL, especially near inlet
areas. Mature adults tend to be found in offshore waters.
III. LIFE HISTORY AND POPULATION BIOLOGY
Age, Size, Lifespan:
Lutjanus synagris reaches a maximum size of approximately 60.0 cm (23.6 inches) total
length (TL), and a maximum weight of 3.5 kg (7.7 pounds) (IGFA 2001). They
live approximately 10 years (Manooch and mason 1984; Allen 1985).
Growth rates in lane
snapper were reported by Rodriguez-Pino (1962) as 2.0 4.0 mm/month (0.07
0.16 inches/month) based on back calculated lengths at mean annulus formation in
otoliths.
Reproduction:
As with most snappers, Lutjanus synagris spawns offshore in groups (Wicklund
1969; Thompson and Munro 1974). Age at maturity is in question for many
snapper species, with most authors relating maturity to length. Thompson and
Munro (1974) reported that both male and female lane snapper become sexually
mature at approximately 18 cm (7.1 inches) fork length (FL). Allen
reported sexual maturity at 10 - 23 cm (3.9 - 0 inches). The spawning
season is protracted with seasonal peaks in activity (Erdman 1976). In Cuba
and Florida,
Lutjanus synagris spawns from March through September, with peaking
activity from June - August (Rodriguez-Pino 1962; Manooch and Mason 1984). Off
Puerto Rico, Erdman (1976)
reported peak spawning in May.
Fecundity was estimated
by Rodriguez-Pino (1962) as 347,416 994,787 eggs per female for fishes
measuring between 225 335 mm (8.8 13.1 inches) FL.
Rodriguez-Pino (1961)
reported that lane snapper sometimes hybridize with yellowtail snapper.
Embryology:
Eggs are pelagic and measure 0.7 - 0.8 mm (0.02 0.03 inches) in diameter
(Rodriguez-Pino 1962; Allen 1985). Hatching occurs after approximately 23 hours
at 26ēC.
IV. PHYSICAL TOLERANCES
Temperature:
Rivas (1970) reported that Lutjanus synagris were collected in waters
ranging
in temperature from 16.1 28.9 8C (60.9 84.0 ēF), with a mean of 24.0 ēC
(75.2 ēF).
Salinity:
Juveniles utilize estuaries where salinity fluctuates with the tidal cycle.
Springer and Woodburn (1960) reported that Lutjanus synagris are
collected in waters ranging from 19.1 35.0 parts per thousand (ppt), though
most adults utilize offshore waters where salinity approaches 35 ppt.
V. COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Trophic Mode:
Most snappers are classified as euryphagic carnivores (Bortone and Williams
1986). The bulk of the diet consists of fishes and crustaceans (Randall 1967).
Rodriguez-Pino (1962) reported that Lutjanus synagris consumes fish (32%
by volume), crustaceans (28%), annelids (12%), and mollusks (1%).
Predators:
Primary predators of snappers are sharks and other large predatory fishes
including other snappers (Bortone and Williams 1986).
Habitats:
Lutjanus synagris adults are typically found at depths of 30 -120m (98 394 feet) (Rivas
1970; Thompson and Munro 1974). Juveniles utilize vegetated inshore waters in
estuaries and bays and are common in seagrass beds (Bortone and Williams 1986).
Adult utilize coastal and offshore areas, either natural or artificial (Bortone
and Williams 1986), including coral reefs, vegetated sand bottoms, rocky
hard-bottom. Mature fishes tend to remain in an area once they have become
established (Bortone and Williams 1986). Lutjanus synagris sometimes
forms large schools, especially during breeding season.
Activity Time:
Lutjanus synagris feeds primarily
nocturnally (Bortone and Williams 1986).
VI. SPECIAL STATUS
Special Status:
None.
Fisheries Importance:
COMMERCIAL FISHERY:
The commercial fishery for lane snapper is not especially valuable in east
central Florida, averaging less than $3,000 annually. In 2003, for
example, the commercial fishery accounted for only 10% of the annual statewide
catch, with the bulk of the harvest (90%) being taken by recreational anglers.
The statewide commercial catch of
lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris, between the years 1987 - 2001 was 1.3
million pounds, with a dollar value of over $1.6 million. Within this time
period, 29,785 pounds of lane snapper were harvested commercially in the 5
county area encompassing the IRL (Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and
Martin Counties), with a dollar value of just $41,221 reported. This ranks
the lane snapper seventy-sixth in commercial value within the IRL, and
eighty-third in pounds harvested.
Figure 1 below shows the dollar value of the commercial
lane snapper
fishery to IRL counties by year. As shown, the commercial catch ranged from a low of $614 in
1987 to a high of over $5,331 in 1995. Martin County accounts
for the largest percentage of the lane snapper catch with 39.5% in total (Figure 2),
followed distantly by Brevard County, which accounts for 21.6% of the total.
Volusia, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties accounted for 18.3%, 13.1% and 7.4%
of the total respectively. Of interest is the steady increase in lane
snappers harvested in Martin County from 1991 - 1995, followed by an a sharp
decrease in catch for the next 3 years, 1996 - 1998.
Figure 1. Annual dollar value of the
commercial catch of lane snapper to the 5-county
area of the Indian River
Lagoon.
Figure 2. Total lane
snapper
dollar value and percentage by county for the years 1987 -
2001.
|
|
VOLUSIA |
BREVARD |
INDIAN |
ST. |
MARTIN |
TOTAL |
|
RIVER |
LUCIE |
| |
Value |
Value |
Value |
Value |
Value |
Value |
|
YEAR |
($) |
($) |
($) |
($) |
($) |
to IRL |
|
1987 |
$267 |
$133 |
$151 |
$54 |
$9 |
$614 |
|
1988 |
$229 |
$252 |
$215 |
$110 |
$11 |
$817 |
|
1989 |
$95 |
$621 |
$17 |
$194 |
$21 |
$948 |
|
1990 |
$107 |
$558 |
$70 |
$124 |
$75 |
$934 |
|
1991 |
$161 |
$375 |
$198 |
$317 |
$1,186 |
$2,237 |
|
1992 |
$1,297 |
$1,164 |
$150 |
$369 |
$1,797 |
$4,777 |
|
1993 |
$244 |
$687 |
$133 |
$380 |
$2,169 |
$3,613 |
|
1994 |
$509 |
$474 |
$338 |
$82 |
$2,591 |
$3,994 |
|
1995 |
$546 |
$845 |
$226 |
$579 |
$3,135 |
$5,331 |
|
1996 |
$92 |
$600 |
$659 |
$4 |
$1,300 |
$2,655 |
|
1997 |
$532 |
$1,300 |
$242 |
$1,323 |
$687 |
$4,084 |
|
1998 |
$549 |
$534 |
$239 |
$319 |
$159 |
$1,800 |
|
1999 |
$612 |
$295 |
$220 |
$217 |
$2,194 |
$3,538 |
|
2000 |
$1,501 |
$634 |
$151 |
$230 |
$815 |
$3,331 |
|
2001 |
$807 |
$451 |
$47 |
$1,111 |
$132 |
$2,548 |
|
Cumulative Totals: |
$7,548 |
$8,923 |
$3,056 |
$5,413 |
$16,281 |
$41,221 |
Table 1. Total dollar value of IRL lane
snapper, Lutjanus synagris, between
1987 - 2001.
|
|
VOLUSIA |
BREVARD |
INDIAN |
ST. |
MARTIN |
|
RIVER |
LUCIE |
| |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
YEAR |
Total |
Total |
Total |
Total |
Total |
|
1987 |
43.49% |
21.66% |
24.59% |
8.79% |
1.47% |
|
1988 |
28.03% |
30.84% |
26.32% |
13.46% |
1.35% |
|
1989 |
10.02% |
65.51% |
1.79% |
20.46% |
2.22% |
|
1990 |
11.46% |
59.74% |
7.49% |
13.28% |
8.03% |
|
1991 |
7.20% |
16.76% |
8.85% |
14.17% |
53.02% |
|
1992 |
27.15% |
24.37% |
3.14% |
7.72% |
37.62% |
|
1993 |
6.75% |
19.01% |
3.68% |
10.52% |
60.03% |
|
1994 |
12.74% |
11.87% |
8.46% |
2.05% |
64.87% |
|
1995 |
10.24% |
15.85% |
4.24% |
10.86% |
58.81% |
|
1996 |
3.47% |
22.60% |
24.82% |
0.15% |
48.96% |
|
1997 |
13.03% |
31.83% |
5.93% |
32.39% |
16.82% |
|
1998 |
30.50% |
29.67% |
13.28% |
17.72% |
8.83% |
|
1999 |
17.30% |
8.34% |
6.22% |
6.13% |
62.01% |
|
2000 |
45.06% |
19.03% |
4.53% |
6.90% |
24.47% |
|
2001 |
31.67% |
17.70% |
1.84% |
43.60% |
5.18% |
Table 2.
By-county annual and cumulative percentages of the lane snapper harvest for
the
years 1987-2001.
|
|
Volusia |
Brevard |
Indian River |
St.
Lucie |
Martin |
|
Dollars |
$7,548 |
$8,923 |
$3,056 |
$5,413 |
$16,281 |
|
% |
18.3% |
21.6% |
7.4% |
13.1% |
39.5% |
Table 3. By-county cumulative dollar value and percentage of total for the
lane
snapper
harvest from 1987 - 2001.
RECREATIONAL FISHERY:
The recreational fishery for lane snapper in Florida far exceeds the commercial
fishery in terms of catch. In 2003, for example, recreational anglers
harvested 90% of the total lane snapper catch. Recreational anglers landed
lane snapper in all coastal areas in Florida, however, landings tend to be
greater in southwest Florida, which accounted for 62% of the state-wide
landings. Data from Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)
show that landings of lane snapper on the Atlantic coast of Florida have been
relatively low, but slowly increasing since 1991. On the Gulf coast,
landings have peaked and dropped repeated throughout the 1990s. However,
landings since 2001 have been relatively stable, averaging approximately 216,000
pounds. In 2003, FWRI reported that lane snapper landings were 14% higher
statewide than in the previous 5 years.
The information below reflects angler survey
information taken from the 5-county area that encompasses the Indian River
Lagoon. Approximately 640,523 lane snapper were harvested in east central
Florida from 1997 - 2001. The bulk of the recreational harvest (41.9%),
was taken in waters 3-200 miles offshore. Nearshore waters accounted for
31% of the harvest, with the Indian River Lagoon and other inland waters
accounting for only 6% and 21.1% respectively. It is interesting to
note a pattern of periodicity in the annual landings data (Figure 3), with a
year of high harvest followed by 2 -3 years of lower landings. This
pattern is most evident in the offshore landings; however, it appears to be
present to a lesser degree in other categories as well.
Figure 3. Survey data for the
lane snapper recreational fishery showing the number of
fishes
harvested in East Florida waters from 1997 - 2004.
Figure 4. Summary of the lane
snapper recreational harvest and percentage of total by
area from 1997 -
2004.
|
|
To 3 Miles |
To 200 Miles |
Other Inland |
IRL |
TOTAL |
|
1997 |
33,470 |
15,305 |
35,141 |
10,265 |
94,180 |
|
1998 |
19,197 |
14,160 |
19,475 |
586 |
53,419 |
|
1999 |
17,574 |
22,237 |
12,236 |
7,459 |
59,506 |
|
2000 |
15,389 |
69,623 |
10,171 |
6,396 |
101,579 |
|
2001 |
16,546 |
32,925 |
22,529 |
4,234 |
76,235 |
|
2002 |
22,585 |
29,713 |
7,543 |
503 |
60,344 |
|
2003 |
60,024 |
56,206 |
8,104 |
8,246 |
132,579 |
|
2004 |
13,922 |
28,478 |
19,675 |
606 |
62,681 |
|
Total: |
198,707 |
268,647 |
134,874 |
38,295 |
640,523 |
Table 4. Summary data for recreational fishery in Eastern Florida waters
for
the lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris, from 1997 - 2004. Data
provided by
National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division, NOAA.
|
|
To 3 |
To 200 Miles |
Other Inland |
IRL |
|
Miles |
|
|
% Total |
% Total |
% Total |
% Total |
|
1997 |
35.5% |
16.3% |
37.3% |
10.9% |
|
1998 |
35.9% |
26.5% |
36.5% |
1.1% |
|
1999 |
29.5% |
37.4% |
20.6% |
12.5% |
|
2000 |
15.1% |
68.5% |
10.0% |
6.3% |
|
2001 |
21.7% |
43.2% |
29.6% |
5.6% |
|
2002 |
37.4% |
49.2% |
12.5% |
0.8% |
|
2003 |
45.3% |
42.4% |
6.1% |
6.2% |
|
2004 |
22.2% |
45.4% |
31.4% |
1.0% |
Table 5. By-county annual and cumulative percentages of the lane
snapper
harvest for the years 1997 - 2001.
Data provided by National Marine
Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division, NOAA.
|
|
To 3 Miles |
To 200 Miles |
Other Inland |
IRL |
|
No. Fish |
198,707 |
268,647 |
134,874 |
38,295 |
|
% |
31.0% |
41.9% |
21.1% |
6.0% |
Table 6. Summary of the lane snapper recreational harvest and
percentage
of total fish captured in each area from 1997 - 2004. Data
provided
by National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics
Division,
NOAA.
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Acosta, A. and R.S. Appeldoorn, 1992 Estimation of growth, mortality and
yield
per recruit for Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus) in
Puerto Rico. Bull. Mar. Sci.
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snapper,
Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus, 1758) in
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Caribbean Fisheries
Institute, Key West, Florida, November 1999. Fort
Pierce, Florida.
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snapper
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(Pisces: Lutjanidae) at
Bermuda. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 203:255-261.
Manickchand-Dass, S., 1987 Reproduction, age and growth of the lane
snapper,
Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus), in Trinidad, West Indies. Bull. Mar. Sci.
40(1):22-28.
Manooch, C.S., 1987 Age and growth of snappers and groupers. p. 329-373.
In
J.J. Polovina and S. Ralston (eds.) Tropical snappers and groupers: biology
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Ser. Westview Press,
Inc., Boulder and
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snapper from Southern Florida. Northeast Gulf Sci.
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the Bahamas, and Bermuda.
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Springer, V.G., and K.D. Woodburn. 1960. An ecological study of the fishes
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Report by: K. Hill,
Smithsonian Marine Station
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