How fast does a red snapper grow?
Red snapper grow in length relatively fast during their first 10 years or so of life reaching, on average, a length of about 30 inches. Growth rate decreases drastically thereafter as they shift more energy into reproduction and less energy into growth. This growth strategy also allows them to get big quickly, an advantage in both avoiding and deterring predators. However, there is great variety in individual growth rates among red snapper; size is little indication of age (see figure below). For instance, a 5 year old red snapper may range in length from as little as 13 inches to as large as 32 inches (average = 25 inches) and a 32 inch long specimen may range from 5 to 50+ years of age. Interestingly, old individuals are seldom very large and large individuals are seldom very old. The 53.6 year old female referenced above was a mere 33.5 inches long and weighed only 17.5 pounds. Conversely, the world angling record red snapper (caught in the GOM off Louisiana by Doc Kennedy of Grand
