State Red Snapper?

[z-bird1970]

Out of Freeport, is it possible or probable to catch snapper this time of year in state waters?

[McDaniel8402]

Plenty possible, even probably to catch red snapper in state waters this time of year. Find a LEGAL SIZED SNAPPER, well, now your just being picky! haha. There are some legal sized red snapper in state waters out of Freeport this time of year, but they are tough to find. I don't personally know of anywhere reliable to find em, but I know some folks have their secret holes that seem to hold some. You'll occasionally get lucky and find a legal one hanging out at the near shore rigs. The better bet though would be to target the mangroves. No limit on em in state water, they grow plenty big (~24" or so is not unheard of), and they are FANTASTIC eating. Nice thing about the mangroves too is that if you want to venture into Fed waters, you can catch em there too, and there is no closed season on them. Just be mindful of the Fed limit though. 12" min length, 10 fish per person per day.

[z-bird1970]

Thanks for your response McDaniel. We made it down during " snapper season" for a week but had boat issues. This time we only have 3 days, and I didn't want to spend too much of our precious time trying to target them. I assume when targeting the mangroves you just scale scale down a bit with the same type rigging? Sardine, shrimp squid ?

[southpaw]

Originally Posted by z-bird1970

Thanks for your response McDaniel. We made it down during " snapper season" for a week but had boat issues. This time we only have 3 days, and I didn't want to spend too much of our precious time trying to target them. I assume when targeting the mangroves you just scale scale down a bit with the same type rigging? Sardine, shrimp squid ?

In my experience live bait works the best, specifically finger mullet. I mainly fish for them inshore, but I've seen them really inspect a bait before eating it. They seem to be pretty smart little buggers. Use small hooks and fluoro leaders

[McDaniel8402]

I can tell you this much. Mangroves have excellent eye sight. Sometimes they are insanely picky, and other times they are easy pickens. I was using a 7/0 straight shank j-hook, with a whole sardine, and a 1 oz weight (knocker rig?) and dropping it down beside a rig out of Freeport, about 22 miles from the jetties. We caught 3 that were ~ 5lbs each. Also got some nice red snapper from the same rig. You're best bet would be flouro carbon leader, live bait, and about a 5/0 circle hook. Minimal weight, but enough to get it down through the water column. Try staying tight to the rig legs. There are PLENTY of big mangroves at the rigs in the 5-10 mile range, but I like running a little further out when the weather cooperates.

[z-bird1970]

Aug 11-12th
Welp we didn't get into any red or mangrove snapper, but lane snapper was another story! Pretty much caught them at will, o and one small ray.

aug11th


aug12th

[z-bird1970]

arrrg pics didnt post I'll try again later.

[TROUTOMATIC]

This time of year it is harder to catch quality snapper in state waters because the commercials hit them before sport fihermen can and then sport fishermen hammer them all season now winter time is a whole different story. I think the snapper move shallow in the winter following the bait fish.

[z-bird1970]

Bottom fishing at close in rigs

[McDaniel8402]

Ummmm, partner, I don't see a single lane snapper in the bunch. Those are ALL red snapper, except the spade fish and the big ol' ray. The lanes have yellow horizontal stripes on them. Nice mess of fish. I'm hoping you plucked those snaps off of a rig in state waters.