Mangrove snapper still hot but harder to find
The fall mangrove snapper bite is going strong, although concentrations of fish seem to be on the move.
On a recent excursion with my father-in-law, Paul Leighton, and his friend, Earl Range, we had to do a little searching to find the bite.
After catching an ample amount of bait, we headed out toward the artificial reefs. On the first stop, we caught a couple of mangoes, but then nothing. Well, I won’t say nothing, because we ended up hooking into Key West grunts and tomtates on every drop until we pulled anchor and moved on.
On our next stop, we anchored in slightly deeper water and found the same scenario. The first few drops produced some snapper in the 15-inch range. This got our hopes up, but they were to be shattered by an abundance of grunts and tomtates, again. We hooked a large barracuda, which skyrocketed right next to us and almost landed in the boat. After that, the snapper bite was non-existent.
Starting to feel the pressure, I headed over to one of my go-to spots for snapper. This spot was quite a distance away, but I decided to see what would happen.
On arriving at the spot, we dropped some bait and caught some nice-sized snapper. But after a few fish in the 15-18 inch range, the bite stopped yet again. We still had a little chum — a half-bucket of dead shiners — so I dumped some over the side and watched them slowly sink and drift away from the boat in the tide. And then, there they were: Dozens of snapper arose from the bottom and commenced to feed on the dead bait. We quickly switched our rigs from bottom rigs to free-lined rigs and started feeding bait to the fish in the current. The bite was on. We had three rods hooked up consistently until we limited out. After catching our limit, we caught-and-released a few more just for fun.
The ride back to Mainsail Marina was a joyous one. We were proud to be heading in with our limit of snapper and filled with the anticipation of the snapper tacos we would be eating later that evening with our families. I was joyous on the ride home because my honey-hole paid off. It was worth putting all those eggs in one basket — at least this time.
Capt. Warren Girle is targeting redfish in Sarasota Bay, where he’s finding schooling reds on the higher tides along mangrove shorelines and spoil islands. These fish have a tendency to be spooky, so the key to catching them is in the approach. Turning off the outboard motor and switching to a trolling motor is crucial to the hunt. Once in position, Girle is quietly dropping anchor and instructing his clients to cast to the edges of the school or slightly ahead of it. Baits such as live shiners or fresh-cut chunks of ladyfish are resulting in upper-slot and over-sized reds.
In the Gulf of Mexico, Girle is hooking up clients with mangrove snapper, juvenile grouper and Spanish mackerel. For the snapper, bottom rigs baited with live or fresh-cut shiners are producing a consistent bite. For the macks, a free-lined shiner on a 2/0 long shank hook will get them every time.
Capt. Aaron Lowman, fishing out of Keyes Marina in Holmes Beach, is catching trout and snook on the flats of Anna Maria Sound. Spotted seatrout are being found on the flats in water depths of 4-6 feet. Live shiners free-lined over the flats are attracting slot-size trout, as well as many just short of being keepers. Ladyfish and mackerel are mixed in.
For the snook, Lowman is migrating to slightly shallower water on flats of 2-3 feet. By chumming along mangrove shorelines or around sandy potholes, Lowman is locating schools of under-slot snook. Rallies of these fish are attainable with the occasional slot-fish mixed in. Casting free-lined shiners among feeding snook is resulting in a bite.
On nearshore structure, Lowman is finding mangrove snapper, flounder and a few keeper gags. All three species are being caught on live shiners combined with a bottom rig.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is fishing the flats from Miguel Bay south to Anna Maria Sound with good results. Spotted seatrout are being found on deeper grass in these areas and are responding to live shiners under a cork or just simply free-lined. Slot-size trout are available, although many undersized fish are present.
On shallower flats, Gross is finding snook and redfish to be accommodating. Mangrove edges with lush grass and potholes are holding decent numbers of under-slot snook, with a few big ones in the mix. When redfish are found, oyster bars and mangrove spoil islands make up the terrain.
Fishing around structure in Tampa Bay is providing Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper. Both species are coming to the hook on live shiners.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is busy landing over-size redfish for pier fishers who arrive without a landing net. Malfese keeps a watchful eye on the deck so he can aid in the catch and ensure these fish are handled properly and promptly released. These bull reds, exceeding 40 inches, are patrolling the pier in passing in search of a tasty morsel. Pier fishers using live pinfish or fresh-cut ladyfish combined with a weighted rig are hooking up on a daily basis. The average on the R&R is two or three of these large reds in a day.
Mangrove snapper are being found in the shade under the pier among the pilings in search of fresh shrimp or shiners. Either bait is producing a bite. Most snapper being caught are in the 10-inch range, although its not unheard of to catch fish up to 15 inches. Expect to catch the occasional flounder and an ample amount of pinfish and grunts while targeting snapper.
Finally, Spanish mackerel are a mainstay at the pier and will probably remain that way through the fall. Some days are producing fish better than others. Pier anglers are averaging a few fish each. On good days, limits of macks — 15 fish per person — are attainable.
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