We headed out Dewees Inlet, which we had no trouble passing on low tide, out to Capers Reef. The seas were almost flat. We fished maybe four or five different spots. We had a chunk of cut bait out on a 4000 class spinning rod. We were going to move so I started reeling it in. When I did, something started peeling drag fast. Ended up being a 39 inch redfish. We took a quick photo, revived him in the water, and he swam off strong. Caught some nice sheepshead, including the biggest for me so far. He was 20 inches and 5 pounds. We caught a whole bunch of ringtails in addition to the sheeps and black bass. We also caught 7 or 8 what I believe is red snapper. I looked at SAFMC website for descriptions and the fish we caught matched the description of red snapper to a tee. I really wanted them to be something else. A DNR scientist doing a survey at the ramp said the photo looks like red snapper to him as well. What do you guys think? I didn’t think red snapper came in as shallow as Capers Reef. We didn’t keep any of them.
Sure looks like a red snapper to me, but you know they are endangered so that’s not actually possible 
“mr keys”
I’ve caught red snapper on capers. nothing big, but still fun!
242 robalo 300 yamaha
Small red snapper, maybe a silk. Hard to tell without seeing the eye. Either way that was a fun fight on a 4000 size reel.looks like a great trip. I’ve never caught them that close to shore before.
Capt. R. Killin
Sea Hooked Charters
They had red irises, not yellow. I double checked that on all of them.
Fished Capers as well on Saturday and caught quite a few ARS. I was also surprised to catch them so close. Pushed further out to Y 73 and caught at least another 10.
There has been a good sized school of Juvy ARS on the capers reef since this summer. Caught a bunch a few months back. Surprised they are still out there.
All lies, them things are extinct and we all know it
what did you catch the sheepies on?
B.O.A.T. Bust Out Another Thousand!
2016 Sea Pro 219
Dude, arent you always on the other side of the red snapper debate?
I wouldn’t say that. I just don’t automatically say SAFMC is bad or wrong. If we are getting them as close as Capers, seems to me the population should be able to sustain at least a little recreational season. But I’m certainly no expert. Not by a long stretch!
quote:
Originally posted by OccamsRaiser
I wouldn’t say that. I just don’t automatically say SAFMC is bad or wrong. If we are getting them as close as Capers, seems to me the population should be able to sustain at least a little recreational season. But I’m certainly no expert. Not by a long stretch!
I don't think they are automatically wrong either, but I find it ironic that you engage on "that side" of the red snapper debate, and you didn't even know what a red snapper looked like until now. Maybe just stay out of the way for people who are trying to help you next time. Just sayin...
We could have them washing up in the surf or jumping in the boat like Asian carp there is so many of them and we’d still get the short stick on regs. The mortality rate of the fish… The commercial fishing industry is rigged the gulf and florida commercial industry has to much power, pull and influence on the SAFMC. I could see heavy regulations on HMS because they share waters but to my knowledge there is no red snapper migration so we should have separate regs on non migratory species or reductions on commercial fishing quotas all the way around to spread the catch quota out. To me that makes as much sense as them managing our inshore regs, don’t worry though those can’t be exploited for profit so we don’t have to worry about the commercial boys on that except for them over harvesting of there food sources for fish and accidental by catch. Crabs aren’t like they were in the 90’s and this was supposed to be the best shrimping season in 37 years and it was weak as ever, but I did see like twice the amount of shrimp boats this year in front of folly and they were coming in real close like a 2 hundred yards of the pier so it was probably a good year for commercial guys. I honestly feel a few more years on some of these jacked up regs will be good for our fishery look at the amount of small fish popping up. Or just let the commercial guys take 1 less trip and that should do it in like a season. I catch more ARS and black seabass then in the 90s but most the sea bass are small ( still recovering) except for the ARS its a mix of small to big fish(seems Healthy). I went on head boats in the 90s and didn’t see as many big keepers as you see today and certainly not the number of trophy fish you see know. If we keep mentioning our ARS is in better shape they will probably send up some bandit boats to fix that problem. Funny that normal Americans aren’t allowed to keep American snappers, I do not think its fair that commercial gets a quota and we get nothing. I don’t think it is to protect our fish as much as
quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
quote:
Originally posted by OccamsRaiser
I wouldn’t say that. I just don’t automatically say SAFMC is bad or wrong. If we are getting them as close as Capers, seems to me the population should be able to sustain at least a little recreational season. But I’m certainly no expert. Not by a long stretch!
I don't think they are automatically wrong either, but I find it ironic that you engage on "that side" of the red snapper debate, and you didn't even know what a red snapper looked like until now. Maybe just stay out of the way for people who are trying to help you next time. Just sayin...
Skiinnej
I’ve been fishing and catching red snapper in the Gulf for 30+ years. The ones we catch are much larger there. I was just a little unsure since those fish were relatively small and in shallower water than I have seen them in the past. I’m not in your way.
That’s rediculous. If you have been catching them for 30+ years, you would know what they look like. What else could it be?
The coommercial guys have it tough imagine if you were in a business say like lumber and the feds say you cent sell plywood 4 months out of the year your screwed right.They do this for a living not just to have fun so think about what you do and if you took the hits they have since the 80"s.
quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
That’s rediculous. If you have been catching them for 30+ years, you would know what they look like. What else could it be?
I was thinking (hoping really)maybe a vermillion snapper. I’ve never caught small ones like that in the Gulf and we are usually in 60+ ft of water. Not trying to argue with you man. I definitely don’t fish as much as you do.
quote:
Originally posted by sand monkey
The coommercial guys have it tough imagine if you were in a business say like lumber and the feds say you cent sell plywood 4 months out of the year your screwed right.They do this for a living not just to have fun so think about what you do and if you took the hits they have since the 80"s.
This is rubbish. Our rights as fishermen to natural resources are just as valid as those of commercial fishermen, perhaps more so.
Edgewater 245cc