Captain’s lament: If I have to fillet another snapper…
“If I have to fillet another snapper” … kind of sounds like a complaint, but it’s the opposite.
I love catching mangrove snapper, and I love eating them, too. And, as a charter captain, I can speak for my clients by saying they like to catch and eat them. They don’t always remember what they’re called. In fact, they usually call them red snapper, but upon return for another charter, they almost always ask, “Can we catch more snapper this trip? They were great last time.”
And I have to agree, they are great.
Most of the snapper I target are in shallower water. Artificial reefs, wrecks and ledges in water depths from 20-40 feet usually yield snapper 15-18 inches, with bigger fish in the mix. These snapper not only put up a great fight all the way to the boat, but the fillets are the perfect size for dredging in some beer batter and releasing into the deep fryer. Tarter sauce and fresh lemon? Ah, yeah.
Catching mangrove snapper can be tricky, and a lot depends on the technique you’re using. For instance, when bottom fishing for mangoes, the skill set lies in being able to detect the bite and quickly reel the fish up before it pulls you into the reef or gets eaten by a hungry goliath grouper.
Another challenge is when you’re free-lining baits to schooling snapper happily frolicking in the chum slick. If you’ve ever tried this, you know that your bait has to float down as natural-looking as possible or the fish won’t take it. Any twitch most surely will result in the snapper casually turning its nose from your bait.
And, then, finding snapper can be a challenge. Good places to look include reefs, wrecks and rock piles, although bridges, piers and jetties are worth consideration.
This being said, snapper fishing is not limited to those in a boat. Everyone can catch snapper — or, at least, they can try.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing catch-and-release snook being caught with consistency. Although snook are typically quite cunning and wary of bait, a few are being hooked by even the most novice of anglers. Notice I said hooked not landed.
The seasoned anglers are finding success and are landing some fish that are exceeding top slot of 33 inches. Since snook season is closed, Malfese keeps a diligent eye on the pier to make sure all snook that are caught are handled carefully and quickly released in good condition.
Mangrove snapper are not so lucky. Keeper-size mangoes are being caught with some measuring more than 10 inches quickly finding their way to a 5-gallon bucket or stringer. These tasty little snapper are being taken on live shrimp fished with a small hook and split shot for weight. A bait cast under the pier does not last long when the snapper are on the feed.
Finally, Spanish mackerel are arriving in pursuit of the many bait schools congregating around the pier. Pier fishers using small jigs, silver spoons or Gotcha plugs are getting connected. Those fishers in the know are carrying an arsenal of lures. Macks up to 20 inches are coming to the dock.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle in Holmes Beach says he’s targeting the redfish that are congregating on shallow grass flats. Although Lowman knows live shiners are a surefire way to catch redfish, he’s employing a few other tricks. In instances where the fish are spooky, Lowman is using a 1/2-ounce gold spoon combined with some super-thin braided line. It allows his clients to cast long distances and present a bait to reds getting too close. Lowman says top-water plugs such as a Rapala Skitterwalk also work well in this scenario.
When the reds are really cooperating, Lowman is breaking out the fly rod. By quietly push-poling within casting distance of the fish, the anglers are crab and shrimp patterns and finding success.
Slot-sized fish are being caught on both spinning and fly tackle, although a majority of the fish are over-sized. Oh, too bad.
Moving out to nearshore structure, Lowman is cashing in on the mangrove snapper bite. Live shiners on a knocker rig are producing snapper up to 16 inches. Mixed in with the snapper are flounder, Key West grunts and juvenile grouper.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing both inshore and offshore resulting in a variety of species being brought to the boat. Spotted seatrout, ladyfish and mackerel are dominating the inshore bite, while mangrove snapper are the primary species being caught offshore.
While on the flats, Girle is targeting spotted seatrout in water depths of 5-6 feet. Once these depths are found, in combination with lush grass flats and a good tide, Girle commences his clients to fish. Live shiners, Girle’s bait of choice, are being devoured by the hungry trout that inhabit these waters. For rigging, Girle puts together 20-pound fluorocarbon leader, a popping cork and a small hook. Slot-size trout are available, although many 14-inchers are being caught. Limits of keeper-fish are attainable, with some exceeding 22 inches.
Mangrove snapper on the nearshore and offshore structure are in Girle’s crosshairs. By anchoring over structure — reefs, wrecks or ledges — Girle is hooking up mangoes in the 20-inch range. Consistent sizes are closer to 15-inches. Again, live shiners are candy to for reef-dwelling roughians. Girle is combining these baits with a 1/2-ounce to 3/4-ounce knocker rig. This rig keeps the bait on the bottom, where the snapper feed.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.