UTERMangrove snapper fishing in The Everglades
In The Everglades, mangrove snapper peak May–October and are around year-round, spawning in July–August, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Thick in the creek mouths; spawners outside.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Mangrove snapper in The Everglades, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilArriving
- MayPeakPeak tarpon and beach snook. Tarpon everywhere on the outside; snook on the beaches at dawn; big trout on the Florida Bay banks before the heat.
- JunePeakTarpon and snook outside; the wet season begins. Fish early — the afternoon storms build by noon. Tarpon on the beaches and at the river mouths on the outgoing; snook in the surf.
- JulySpawningThick in the creek mouths; spawners outside.
- AugustSpawningHot, wet, buggy — and the reds start to school. Reds gather on the outside bars and Florida Bay flats; snook under the mangrove shade on the strong tide; fish the outgoing at dawn.
- SeptemberPeakRedfish schools build; the bait run starts on the outside. September reds on the outside bars and beaches with the mullet; snook and tarpon follow the bait along the outside.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish mangrove snapper near Marco Island, Everglades City, Chokoloskee
Mangrove islands, tidal creeks, oyster bars and the outside beaches from Marco south to Cape Sable, then Florida Bay's shallow basins and banks. Almost none of it developed. The most tide-driven water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 1,165 mangrove shoreline, 121 ledge / hard bottom, 49 artificial reef, 48 wreck, 42 dock / pilings spots in the The Ten Thousand Islands & Everglades map area — the kinds mangrove snapper hold on.
What to use for mangrove snapper
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- 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.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader15–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–2/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mangrove snapper in The Everglades?
Peak season is May–October, with fish spawning in July–August (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Mangrove snapper are here year-round. July: Thick in the creek mouths; spawners outside.
Where do mangrove snapper hold in The Everglades?
Look on mangrove shoreline — around Marco Island, Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Flamingo.
What is the best bait for mangrove snapper in The Everglades?
Live bait: live shrimp, pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, squid. Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 15–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–2/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for mangrove snapper in The Everglades?
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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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