Snapper are gray or greenish above and light on the underside, usually with an overall reddish hue ranging from copper to red. They average in size from 10 to 18 inches inshore and 2 to 10 pounds offshore, often reaching into the high teens. Notorious bait thieves, making hard pulls towards structure, they are an awesome fight on light tackle. If you’re into a good supper mangrove snapper make excellent table fare, because of their firm white meat.
Why should you target mangrove snapper? Although smaller than their offshore cousins, inshore snapper are loads of fun and fairly easy to catch, especially for kids. These terrific little fighters can often save the day, when other fish fail to cooperate.
Where and what are the best times to fish? Let’s be positive and rephrase the question: Where and when are the best places to catch them? A hardy little bait stealer; snapper are fairly abundant throughout Tampa Bay, and nearby Inter-Coastal waterways. You can catch them all year long, but the best bite usually kicks off around April and goes right through the summer. Most often you’ll see anglers fishing docks, rock piles, artificial reefs, fish attractor’s, piers and bridges, though winter winds usually make it difficult to fish bridges from a boat. In the summertime heat it’s a pleasant relief to pull up under a bridge, set the anchor, and grab a little piece of shade. Then pop the top on a nice cool beverage and prepare for some spectacular light-tackle action.
What tackle, rigs and baits are used? Light tackle means the same rods and reels you use for everyday snook, trout and redfish. Nothing too heavy as it virtually eliminates the awesome rod bending pull of a 14 to 18 inch snapper. Try a medium-light spinning outfit rigged with braided line and 20 inches of Seaguar fluorocarbon leader.
Several methods are used. A knocker-rig; first slide a small soft rubber glow bead onto the leader (small enough that it slides on the leader, but not over the leader knot), now slide a quarter or three eights ounce oval slip sinker (depending on current and depth), then another glow bead the same size as before and finish it off with a number one Daiichi circle hook, tied using a loop knot. A Split Shot Rig; this is basically the same; however instead of using the glow beads and slip sinker, attach a split shot approximately 10-12 inches above the hook.
Baits are fairly simple. Shrimp is probably the most used however small sardines, fiddler crabs, mussels, and oyster follow suit. When using shrimp, only use pieces; break them in half, thread the tail section onto the hook followed by the head hooked under the horn and you’re set.
How do you clean and cook them? If you’ve ever cleaned a mess of snapper you know there is plenty of fat, which inevitably sticks to your knife. Here’s a tip to avoid this: As their caught, place them into a cooler with a slushy ice and water mixture. Doing this causes the fat in the body cavity to gel making it easy to discard. Even though a 12 to 18 inch snapper is small by comparison, fillet them anyway, remove the skin and rib bones. Now you’re left with a single piece of fish the size of your hand and that’s “perfect!”
Mangrove Snapper are one of the great delicacies when it comes to inshore fish and make excellent fried fish sandwiches. Use fresh French rolls, make your own tartar or cocktail sauce, them add a slice of sweet onion and lettuce. Certainly other recipes will work, but without a doubt fried snapper is awesome; especially when served with a pot of grits, tomato gravy and jalapeno hush puppies… could it possibly get any better?
Captain Woody Gore is an outdoor writer, photojournalist, and speaker. He also guides fishing charters in the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas. Fishing these areas for over fifty years he offers memorable fishing adventures. Capt Woody’s website is located at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM or give him a call at 813-477-3814
This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com
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