Cold weather has the redfish, snook and trout fired up! Water clarity is improving and water temps are dropping in the bay so sight casting big redfish and snook in shallow water is awesome right now. Big tides and prime water temps have our big predatory fish active and eating all day. 30-40 fish per trip right now is the norm so inshore fishing is on fire right now.
Cold weather has the redfish, snook and trout fired up! Water clarity is improving and water temps are dropping in the bay so sight casting big redfish and snook in shallow water is awesome right now. Big tides and prime water temps have our big predatory fish active and eating all day. 30-40 fish per trip right now is the norm so inshore fishing is on fire right now.
The holiday season is upon us in Sarasota, Florida and the fish seem to know it. Our fishing charter customers had success targeting Snook, Redfish, Trout and Jacks in the shallow flats of Sarasota bay. As water temperatures dropped we found fish congregated on low tides in deeper mud holes in the buttonwood bay area on the back side of Longboat Key. On higher tides we found fish on top of shallow oyster bars around the bully creek area near the Sarasota airport. The nearshore fishing in Sarasota was also hot on the public reefs in front of Siesta, Lido...
The holiday season is upon us in Sarasota, Florida and the fish seem to know it. Our fishing charter customers had success targeting Snook, Redfish, Trout and Jacks in the shallow flats of Sarasota bay. As water temperatures dropped we found fish congregated on low tides in deeper mud holes in the buttonwood bay area on the back side of Longboat Key. On higher tides we found fish on top of shallow oyster bars around the bully creek area near the Sarasota airport. The nearshore fishing in Sarasota was also hot on the public reefs in front of Siesta, Lido and Longboat Key. Our customers enjoyed catch and clean fishing charters catching Kingfish, Triple tail, Cobia and Snappers.
The Best Snapper Species
Snappers are a fish family that need no introduction. Anglers from all over the world come to Florida to Target & catch them and love them for a variety of reasons. They’re usually easy to locate, are abundant in population, and provide a tasty treat. Just the names “Mangrove Snapper” and “Red Snapper” get every saltwater fisher’s heart racing.
But before you think about cooking one up for a tasty treat, we will get U locked & loaded to land a boat load full.
We are very fortunate on the West Coast Florida Gulf of Mexico...
The Best Snapper Species
Snappers are a fish family that need no introduction. Anglers from all over the world come to Florida to Target & catch them and love them for a variety of reasons. They’re usually easy to locate, are abundant in population, and provide a tasty treat. Just the names “Mangrove Snapper” and “Red Snapper” get every saltwater fisher’s heart racing.
But before you think about cooking one up for a tasty treat, we will get U locked & loaded to land a boat load full.
We are very fortunate on the West Coast Florida Gulf of Mexico with the Mangrove and the Red Snapper. But other common species include the Cubera Snapper, Lane Snapper, Mutton Snapper, and Yellowtail Snapper. There are actually a total of 125 Snapper species that inhabit the earth’s oceans!
Mangrove Snapper
These guys have a red or pinkish tint that covers their small, rough scales. And don’t be fooled by their little teeth – they’re seriously sharp! To know where to find these fish, take a hint from their name. You’ll find them in mangrove islands but you can also find them hanging around docks, piers, grass flats, and more.
Red Snapper
Next up we have one of the largest and most favorable Snapper species, the Red Snapper. This species puts up a tough fight in offshore waters and can weigh up to 50 pounds! They’re also among the best-tasting fish species, period. Unfortunately, though, they’ve been overfished in many places, so there are strict seasons in place, especially here in Florida.
Cubera Snapper
The Cubera Snapper is another large Snapper species, with the biggest recorded weighing 120 pounds. They can be harder to find and make more of a rare appearance. But that just makes it more exciting when you catch one! These fish are more commonly found in deeper wrecks and reefs.
Lane Snapper
Next up we have Lane Snapper. A step down from Cubera Snapper, these little guys reach maximum lengths of 20 inches. But what they lack in size, they make up in strength. Lane Snapper will try and take any bait you present, even if that means grabbing it before a larger fish can. They have a pretty mix of white, yellow, and pink to create a tropical-looking fish. And, as with most Snappers, their fillets are quite delicious as well.
Mutton Snapper
The Mutton Snapper almost looks like a mix of the Mangrove and Lane Snapper, except they’re quite a bit larger. These guys range in size and you catch smaller ones or large ones out on the reefs.
Yellowtail Snapper
Last on the list, we have Yellowtail Snapper. Another fish on the smaller side, these fish are cute and can be recognized easily by their yellow tails – hence their name. They heavily populate southern Florida, where anglers can constantly rip them up and head home with a small but delicious treat!
Snapper Fishing Rules and Regulations
Now that you’re aware of common Snapper species, let’s talk about rules and regulations. As mentioned, there are tons of Snapper species out there. That means there are different types of rules for different types of fish, including maximum and minimum lengths, bag limits, and more.
It’s very important that you know the difference in regulations for each species. We have You fully covered.
We have the Federal Pelagic Species's Permits & NOAA Reef Permits to legally land any/all these snapper Species including ARS - American Red Snapper during the Federal Regulation Season Gulf of Mexico June - Aug
We are Fully Credentialed to both Target & Deliver the Snapper Species you deserve & desire.
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My guys had a great time on their fishing trip with Captain Nick! The trip was booked per my 10 year old son’s request, and he was accompanied by his step dad and grandpas. Nick was very pleasant and friendly, experienced, and treated my boy as one of his own. They all had a really great time and learned a lot during their trip. Thanks Captain Nick!
Alex is a consummate professional; demonstrates the uncommon ability to banter with and keep kids on the fish while being relatable to adults. If you want your crew to experience a great time and remain comfortable, this is your guy.
We had an amazing time with Dan. We caught plenty of fish and he was great with our kids. Highly recommend using Dan if you’re in the area and want to take the family out.
We arrived at the Dock to meet the Captain and get our trip underway ,Captain Tommy was awesome right from the start not to mention very nice boat with a lot of room and very fast !!! He was an awesome Fisherman and would teach and show his skill’s and would answer any questions. Captain Tommy would absolutely put you right on the fish , if he didn’t like a spot he would drag and go somewhere else !! 10 out of 10 for us ,we would always book him if we are in the area. Hope to get him up to Destin sometime!!!
We had a rough day on the water. He is an amazing guide does everything and more to get you on fish and on the hook! I would highly recommend Matt as your next fishing guide! Great guy and very experienced when it comes to fishing the clear water area!
Captain Steven gave us a great trip catching fish. He was very knowledgeable and friendly and was a great experience overall. I recommend Captain Steven for those of you looking to take advantage of the Tampa experience.
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