UTER
Photo: Geeklikepi, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lutjanus campechanus
How to catch Red snapper
Red snapper feed in 64–84°F water and bite best at 70–80°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 13 waters.
45 pts · trophy at 30"Feeds 64–84°FBest 70–80°FOut of season nowArtificial reefWreckLedge / hard bottom
About
The Gulf's famous fish: red as a fire truck, thick as a football, on every reef and wreck from 60 feet out. The season is short and the boats are many.
How to fish it
Anchor up-current of the structure, drop a live bait or a big chunk on a knocker rig, and wind the moment it loads. Check the season before the boat leaves the dock.
What it eats
live cigar minnows and pinfishcut baitbig jigssquid
Live bait for it
Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
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.
Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
Hook2/0–7/0
Braid30–65 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereA short summer season in state and federal waters that changes every year; minimum 16", bag limit — confirm the dates at MyFWC.
The current rule →Where it is, month by month
PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving
Florida
Gulf of Mexico