Red snapper, help!

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1

What are some good “basics” for a novice trying to catch snapper and grouper:

Bait? Live pin fish, menhaden and cigar minnows

50 lb leader?

Anchor over good live bottom spots for 30-40 minutes a piece until one produces?

Will live bottom at 85-100’ produce snapper and grouper this time of year?

2

Is it worth trying cut bait along with live bait, or is live bait the only way to go?

3

Yes to all of those questions. Get out there and try it and see what works for you.

4

Are they hard to catch?

5

Let’s start a pole?

Who has caught ARs with squid or mushy frozen cigars?

I will go first.

If you want to catch b liners and black sea bass I prefer non live bait.

big dog

6
quote:
Who has caught ARs with squid or mushy frozen cigars?

I have caught plenty with both. The largest ARS I ever caught was on a drift line with a ballyhoo and a duster skirt in 120’ of water. It was in the 40 pound range.

Snapper usually feed higher in the water column than grouper, grouper want the bait on the bottom. Reds usually will be anywhere from 20’ above the bottom to the surface. With some practice they are easy to see with your fish finder. They are not particular eaters, frozen squid, cigar minnows, spanish sardines, whatever, if the fish are there they will eat it. Live bait is usually best for grouper, but not necessarily.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose

7

If you want easy,just start trolling…Wahoo,dolphin,blackfin are alot easier plus you look cooler doing it…:sunglasses:

8

Already know how to do that, but thanks!

9

The big ones like live bait about 20-30ft off the bottom, try a b-liner for bait:smiley:

10
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

They are not particular eaters, frozen squid, cigar minnows, spanish sardines, whatever, if the fish are there they will eat it.

Bingo. They are incredibly opportunistic feeders. If I had a dollar for ever red snapper caught on a frozen cigar minnow out of Charleston, the boat would be paid for.
11
quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

They are not particular eaters, frozen squid, cigar minnows, spanish sardines, whatever, if the fish are there they will eat it.

Bingo. They are incredibly opportunistic feeders. If I had a dollar for ever red snapper caught on a frozen cigar minnow out of Charleston, the boat would be paid for.

In fact on Skinny’s bote, I caught a 15# ARS and a 17# Gag on the same drop with a chicken rig with squid on it. This was during the big bottom fish off we had a few years back. EF was on board with us.

.
PROUD YANKEE

Oyster Baron

NMFS = No More Fishing Season

“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”