Red Snapper

There are quite a few fish called “red snappers.” Generally of the family Lutjanidae, snappers are so called because of their tendency to snap at prey with their sharp upper teeth. In America, red snappers, Lutjanus campechanus, are found on the southeastern coast, particularly off of Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico, where other snappers like mutton, vermilion, mangrove, and yellowtail are also found. The red snapper has firm, white flesh. The smaller fish are pan-fried; the larger ones are filleted with the skin left on for broiling, grilling, and braising.