5- to 1-ounce egg weight onto the leader, then tie on a 6/0 to 8/0 circle hook, depending on the bait size. Federal regulations require that fishermen use only non-stainless steel circle hooks when fishing natural baits for red snapper.
What hook is best for snapper?
Circle hooks are highly popular for reds, and they’re perfect candidates for them given how they scoff baits and will ‘eat and run’ basically settling the hook for you. Size 7/0 to 8/0 for larger reds and 4/0 to 6/0s for smaller fish is good starting point.
What size hooks do you use for snapper?
Suicide hook patterns ranging from size 1/0 for pinkies, through to size 5/0 for large snapper are recommended. Best times would be early morning and evening although snapper can also be caught throughout the night. Medium-sized soft plastic lures in minnow or shad patterns are also very effective on snapper.
What do you use for snapper fishing?
Snapper of all sizes, including huge 20 or even 30-pound fish are commonly caught on dead bait. Squid, pogies, and cigar minnows are always reliable and readily available. But if you want to try to target huge snapper, you need live bait and the bigger, the better.
Do you have to use circle hooks for snapper?
Federal regulations require that fishermen use only non-stainless steel circle hooks when fishing natural baits for red snapper. Artificial baits can have J-hooks.
What is the pound leader for snapper?
Leader weights can vary from 20lb through to about 80lbs, however 40-60lb usually covers most situations. Light leaders are best, however snapper can have quite sharp teeth and can bite through leaders lighter than 40lb.
What depth do you catch snapper?
About snapper
most commonly found at depths of 15m to 60m but can also be found down to about 200m. most common in warmer waters around New Zealand – especially in the Hauraki Gulf. the dominant fish in northern inshore communities.
How long should a snapper leader be?
At one time, 15 feet of leader was considered excessive. Today, for mutton snapper in particular, leaders between 40 and 80 feet are the norm.
What is the best month to catch snapper?
Snapper fishing is fun for the whole family. On Long Island snapper fishing starts in August and is full swing by Labor Day or mid September. The fishing is great through most of September and slows down by the beginning of October.
What is the best Burley for snapper?
The best berley is one that contains as much natural product as possible – skipjack tuna, mussel, salmon, mullet guts and paua – all ground up finely with tuna oil added. To say a berley has ‘fish oil’ added is not good enough; it needs to be tuna oil to get the best results.
How do you catch red snapper from shore?
Red Snapper can be targeted from the shore but catching them is uncommon. The main reason for this is because it’s difficult to get your bait to where the Red Snappers are. They are territorial ambush predators who don’t actively pursue their prey. The best live bait are shad, mullet, and cigar minnows.
What is the purpose of circle hooks?
Circle hooks are designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth which makes the fish easier to release. Circle hooks have been used successfully with both dead and live baits for many species.
Are offset circle hooks illegal?
Offset circle hooks are legal in federal waters when fishing for reef fish. Anglers who prefer fishing jig heads will also note they are not exempt from the circle hook requirement when using natural baits.
Are stainless steel hooks illegal in Florida?
CIRCLE HOOKS – You must use non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural baits in Federal waters. If you are fishing on a boat, your catch must remain in whole condition until landed ashore (heads, fins & tails intact). Please refer to the Florida Saltwater Regulations guide for the specifics on each species.
Do you need a leader for snapper?
The wire is the best leader material for snapper fishing, as it is strong enough to help reel in big snappers, and resilient enough for the small ones which love to thrash about once they are hooked. Make sure that your fishing rod is equipped with wire leader material before you head on out and catch some snappers.
How much drag do I need for snapper?
For general fishing a 6-10kg 7′ setup is ideal for snapper fishing from a boat although you’ll need something in a 15kg rating if chasing the really big ones. From the rocks an 8′ rod in the 10-15kg range is ideal. Beach fishing will usually require something in the 12′ range loaded with 10kg.
What Colour are snapper attracted to?
Pink often works well for snapper! Bright pink is a consistent performer, but the reason for this is not obvious. As the light changes, so should lure colours.
Where is the best place to catch snapper?
The fish are known for their delicious, delicate flavor, and they can be found in many coastal waters. Red snapper are most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico, but they can also be found off the coasts of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. In general, red snapper fishing is best in the spring and summer months.
What size reel is best for snapper?
Spinning reels from medium to large 4000-10000 are suitable for catching snapper and kingfish. A medium 4000 size reel is great for inshore lure fishing, while a large 10000 size spinning reel is better suited to fishing with bait for bigger kingfish and northern species like red emperor and coral trout.
Should leaders be heavier than Main Line?
First and foremost, the rule is to use a leader line weight less than (weaker) the mainline. For example, if your using a 15# monofilament mainline, you’ll likely need a <= 12# leaderline. The reason being if you ever get snagged or hung up, you can break off on your leader line vs. the mainline.
What is the best time to fish for snapper blues?
There was a time when snapper blues topped everybody’s list of summertime fishing favorites. Spawned in late May and early June, baby blues grow quickly, measuring 3 to 5 inches by mid-July when they move into tidal creeks and rivers, where there is a ready food supply of small baitfish and grass shrimp.