The type of boat you’re taking out to catch red snappers can make or break your success catching them. You can even try heavy spinning and baitcasting tackle since those reflect so much light. This makes them perfect for red snapper territory. Generally, vertical jigs work best in shallow depths of up to 30 feet to catch the most amount of light. This will require a bit of finessing, but vertical jigs will work in a pinch. Vertical jigs can emulate a tempting, easy bite to red snappers. Jigging for Red Snapper Fishīesides live bait, you can try your luck with some shiny metal lures. Just make sure you keep the baits refreshed if bites are slow. Pilchards are basically larger sardines, so buy them specifically for bigger fish like red snappers.ĭrop these live baits deep down with a heavy-duty pole and you may be able to coax some heavy hitters out of holes and deep covered areas. We recommend cigar minnows and pilchards for shiny, eye-catching fish. You need to use live bait or you’ll wind up catching grouper, jacks, or triggerfish instead. Red snappers are pretty clever fish, they’re not going to be biting onto any limp piece of bait. After that, it’s time to bring out your best bait to reel them in. This will draw out the red snappers from crevices and overlying structures. Take a nice block of chunked fish and start chumming around the perimeter. You can employ a wide-area chumming strategy that will whip them into a frenzy. If you can pinpoint a red snapper feeding grounds in more shallow waters, your opportunities get much better. Over 95% of red snapper fished up come from federal waters. Take notice of federal and state waters, as they will have designated fishing seasons for red snapper. The exact dates will change each year based on various spawning conditions. When is the best time to fish for red snapper? Well, the summer is when spawning season begins. The only exception to the rule is if you overfish the same spot. Red snappers are creatures of habit, and they are less likely to seek out new homes than other species. You can return to that exact same spot and find them back for more the next day. Once you find a spot where red snapper have gathered, don’t forget to record your location. Start at the coast and work your way out, looking for artificial reefs. Red snappers are attracted to reefs or the closest thing you’ll get to it in the Gulf. One way to reduce your time spent scouting is to hone in on artificial structures. Favorite hot spots include piers, seawalls, and old wreckage.ĭon’t start too far out from the shore or you’ll likely get frustrated from spending a lot of time looking for rocky floors. You can find them at any depth between 30 and 200 feet, usually huddled by nearby protective structures. Red snappers are both deep water and shallow dwellers. If you follow these nine tips, you’re sure to hoist up your own ruby red snapper on your first trip! 1. Don’t worry, we’ve got the perfect red snapper fishing primer for you. Newer anglers who have yet to catch their own red snapper fish may need a few pointers before heading out to the Gulf. Federal restrictions on red snapper season have been loosened recently, renewing excitement for fishermen everywhere. Because of this, their populations have been under close watch and fishing for them has been difficult. The red snapper is one of the most popular fish in the gulf and the most popular snapper of all.

Queen snapper