Red Snapper depth.

[dstockwell]

Well with the season almost upon us, what is usually the min depth to begin looking for them.

[pennfish]

Ive caught them from 35 to 75 this year , but I will start @ 75 on the big day. Good luck

[dstockwell]

Thanks Penn, do you use same leader/line test as for Grouper, some say leader should be less say #40, I am using #80 leader for Grouper.

[Saltwater4me]

80# equipment is over kill for snapper. I would not use more than 30# main line and as small of floro leader as you can get away with. Bigger snapper hold up higher in the water column and you just need enough equipment to slow them down before they get back to whatever structure you are fishing over. Lighter equpiment is twice as much fun anyway!! As the season goes on snapper will get very line shy.

[dstockwell]

Well thats fine, right now the main line is #30 mono and I was using #80 floro leader, like you said lighter is more fun, Ill just drop down to #40 floro leader and hope whatever structure I'am fishing I dont get lots of cutoffs.

[pennfish]

We were using 60# Vanish flourocarbon witch usually tests higher. Take several diff sizes and use what you can get away with , I was after grouper so thats all I had , we threw back 15 or 20 all over 16 in. The snapper wanted whole sardines , we would thread the circle hook and line through the eyes and place the hook in the tail . Maybe some live scaled sardines will fall victom to the cast net if there here (snapper candy) for that first trip.

[dstockwell]

Thanks penn.

[DoubleD]

Use smaller hooks, too.

[Tom Keels]

I like rigging 2 2/0 octopus circles on 40# flourocarbon just like the 30 second kingfish rig. Snell the first on the end then snell the next one about 5 inches up. Put the front one in the nose of a cigar minnow and bury the back one in the side. This works awesome and keeps you from getting bit off behind the head.

Also with a little practice you can tie them in 30 seconds.

[dstockwell]

Bigger snapper hold up higher in the water column and you just need enough equipment to slow them down before they get back to whatever structure you are fishing over.

So I guess it depends on what your bottom machine shows as to how far you crank up to find the bigger ones, or lower the bait slow enough to hope they take it on the way down.

[Tom Keels]

If you suspect there are Snapper on a spot, drop all the way to the bottom then reel up 6 or 8 cranks. If there are a lot of snapper there, when you think you are nearing the bottom, let it fall slower with your thumb on the spool and you will feel them hit the bait on the fall.

Snapper showing on a bottom machine looks like a Christmas tree.

[dstockwell]

Thanks.

[Sea Fox]

Is there a drawing of te 30 sec. kingfish rig? The last time I was out they would bite the tail off, so this rig would have been the ticket.

[Tom Keels]

Is there a drawing of te 30 sec. kingfish rig? The last time I was out they would bite the tail off, so this rig would have been the ticket.

I can't find one. And I'm sure I couldn't draw one to save my life. If anybody wants to learn I can bring stuff to the next NFGFC Meeting and teach you. Once you see how easy it is, you'll be able to tie them blind folded.

[qoutrage]

Thanks for bringing the subject up, DS. I been wondering the same thing- How to catch'em, depth, best bait, etc.
Fried red snapper use to be one of my favorite plates at 'The Oaks'..
Gotta get out there and 'Get Sum' (a good name for the boat, RC).