UTERCubera snapper fishing in The Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, cubera snapper peak June–August and are around year-round, spawning in July–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Spawning on the deep wrecks and reef edge around the July and August full moons.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cubera snapper in The Florida Keys, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JunePeak
- JulySpawningSpawning on the deep wrecks and reef edge around the July and August full moons.
- AugustSpawning
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish cubera snapper near Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon
Oceanside flats and patch reefs inside the reef line, the reef itself, then the Gulf-side banks and basins of Florida Bay and the backcountry. Bridges and channels connect the two. The clearest, warmest water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 1,715 ledge / hard bottom, 695 artificial reef, 340 wreck, 88 bridge spots in the The Florida Keys map area — the kinds cubera snapper hold on.
What to use for cubera snapper
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 72–88°F water, best at 76–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cubera snapper in The Florida Keys?
Peak season is June–August, with fish spawning in July–August (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Cubera snapper are here year-round. July: Spawning on the deep wrecks and reef edge around the July and August full moons.
Where do cubera snapper hold in The Florida Keys?
Look on wreck, ledge / hard bottom, artificial reef, bridge — around Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West.
What is the best bait for cubera snapper in The Florida Keys?
Live bait: blue crabs, pinfish, blue runners (hardtails). Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for cubera snapper in The Florida Keys?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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All about cubera snapper · The Florida Keys, the whole year