Coursair
Aquarium Advice Addict
I kept a baby like that for a few months. They can grow quite large over time. The record weight is 300+ pounds, but they usually average between 35 and 150 pounds. Personally, I think they're really cool. I let mine go because in the long run I wouldn't be able to provide the proper care for it. Unfortunately, it's probably best to let it go. Let nature take its course.
The OP isn't looking for a Snapper as a pet. The saw a baby at their pond and are trying to ID it.
And it is usually highly ILLEGAL to release an animal into the wild once its been in captivity over a certain length of time. At least without permission from Fish and Game. Because your "pet" may introduce pathogens or disease that the local population has no resistance to. And unless you release it exactly back where it came from that can be bad as well.
This may no longer be the case, but it was the rule when I was managing a reptile store. If Im wrong I apologize.