The snapper family shares
some similarities with the
grouper family. There are
many different species of
snapper and they hang
out on the same reefs,
wrecks and rocky areas that the grouper are found.
Snapper are popular from the Carolinas to Florida on the
Atlantic, across the Gulf coast to Texas, and in the water
of the Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean. Snapper are
smaller than the grouper family, but there is the mutton
snapper that can weigh more than 25 pounds. The most
popular types of snapper are the red, yellowtail, silk,
mangrove, blackfin, dog, gray, black, and lane.
Catching Snapper
Lots of fishermen catch snapper off of piers and bridges,
but most snapper are caught from boat fishermen drifting
baits along the bottom or anchoring near reefs and
wrecks. When anglers arrive at a good spot along a reef
or wreck, they have a few options for catching these fish.
Many anglers prefer fishing baits along the bottom while
others like to chum them to the surface. Both methods
are effective. Some fishermen prefer using artificial lures
such as jigs to catch snapper.
When chumming along a reef, it is easiest to purchase a
frozen block of ground menhaden. Put the block of chum
into a mesh bag and lower it into the water attached to a
rope. The most popular type of bait is a piece of fresh
fish such as little tunny, mackerel or menhaden.
|
|
