Moving into August, targeting mangrove snapper

by Capt. Danny Stasny | Be the first to comment

Catching mangrove snapper is the highlight for another week.

Anglers just can’t get enough of the tasty fish and they’re so abundant around structure in the Gulf of Mexico and in Tampa Bay.

Several methods of fishing work to hook the species.

One is anchoring and chumming. After putting enough shiners in the bait well for the day, take an extra throw with the cast net to collect an ample amount for chum. Fresh-dead shiners trickled over the transom during the slower stages of the tide is a great way to lure snapper out of their hiding places in the deep toward the surface, where they are visually targetable.

Once the fish are in the chum, free-lining baits to them is effective — just remember to use a light leader and a small hook, as mangrove snapper can be spooked.

If the snapper don’t rise up in the chum, add a weight to the rig to get the bait on the bottom in front of their noses.

Usually a knocker rig — an egg sinker and a small circle hook — will work. You might find chumming, even when bottom fishing, will aid in keeping the bite going. But if the current increases, you want to call a halt, as the chum will drift away and take the snapper with it.

Mangrove snapper also will congregate on deeper grass flats. In these areas, a free-lined shiner with a light leader and small hook will suffice.

On many occasions, you’ll be targeting other fish, including spotted seatrout, when you discover a school of snapper. So you might see a mix of catches, both the trout and snapper and possibly mackerel and ladyfish. The snapper have no problem competing with other species for your bait.

On my Just Reel charters, we’re targeting mangrove snapper. Fishing structure such as rocks and ledges is working well. Using a knocker rig with a live shiner is producing the best action. In fact, most days it’s resulting in limits.

After snapper fishing, I’m moving to deeper grass flats to target trout. On most days, I’m seeing good rallies of fish as long as the tide is moving. Mixed in with the trout are Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and a random mangrove snapper.

Lastly, catch-and-release snook are being caught, although some patience is required. The linesiders are finicky.

Capt. David White is putting his offshore charters on yellowtail snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Limits of the fish are being caught with ease as they frolic in the chum line. Freelining baits to the yellowtail is working well, plus it can be quite visual. On days when the yellowtails are deep, a bottom rig is getting the job done.

American red snapper and mangrove snapper also are being caught on White’s offshore charters.

Moving inshore, White says shark hunting is the highlight. Blacktip, sandbar and bull sharks are common catches. Fresh-cut chunks of mackerel are prime baits for the large predators.

Other catches inshore include catch-and-release snook and many mangrove snapper.

Capt. Warren Girle says bay fishing is producing action on morning tides in Sarasota Bay. Spotted seatrout are the most apparent bite, with limits being caught. Most catches are occurring while free-lining live shiners over deeper grass flats. Mixed in are a variety of other species, including ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and some rogue mangrove snapper.

On shallower grass flats, Girle says his clients are hooking up with snook during swift moving tides. Casting shiners along mangrove shorelines is working best.

Lastly, venturing into the Gulf is yielding mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel.

Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says the number of mangrove snapper congregating around the pier is increasing, although they are not near what the full potential can be — yet.

Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are being rewarded with near limits of the tasty little snappers. Using live shrimp as bait is yielding other fish, such as redfish and catch-and-release snook.

Lastly, with the aid of a silver spoon or speck rig, anglers at the pier are hooking into an occasional Spanish mackerel.

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