Snapper Time!

[FishHeadGear]

Now that they have shortened our red snapper season to a measly 2 months and 2 fish per person in the Gulf, you have to make your fish count. We went on a short trip out of Orange Beach, Alabama last week and the fish were certainly hungry and ready. We started out the morning with a visit to the bait man for two big scoops of live cigar minows and hardtails before venturing offshore to visit a few favorite spots. I love the fealing of having a live well full of cigar minows. We caught a nice 7 man limit with several 15 pounders and one 21 lb. fish. Action with some small AJs and a nice 10 lb mangrove finished off the trip.

We're headed out for a mixed trip tomorrow from Mississippi - inshore in the morning for speckled trout and then running to the rigs for snapper, cobia and king mackerel in the heat of the day. Hopefully a few lucky fishing t-shirts from FishHead Gear will ensure a good trip. Sportfishermen readers get 10% off with coupon code SPRTFSH10.

[John Rogers]

Thats a nice snapper.

[FishHeadGear]

Thanks John. It was a good trip. The fish were all hanging in midwater above the structure and would often follow up to the top behind one that was being reeled in.

[Mokarran]

If the snapper or so close to extinction as to require such a strict limit why is it that everyone is catching them so easily? I know around the coast here they have gotten much more abundant. Maybe they all migrated around the coast to here . Looks like the strict bag limits aren't far behind either .

[Captain Michael Buffington]

I ran a charter boat out of Port Aransas, Tx last summer and with a 2 per customer snapper and king mack limit with 2 customers I was done on an inshore trip in 30 minutes sometimes. What to do, what to do...Mangroves baby Pm me and i will give you the secrets It's alot of fun

Mike

[GALAZIO]

Alright Mike... I expect some coordinates!!!

[FishHeadGear]

Alright Mike. I sent you a PM re the Mangroves. I'm ready for the secret as we will be stomping around in the right area tomorrow. It sure helps to bring down the average cost per fish when you can diversify and add to your catch.

[Reelscreamer]

Good job on the Snapper. Wish the season was longer for ya'll! The only time I got any snappers was when I was deployed to Cuba we did a lot of Snapper and AJ fishing down there! Way to go and keep up the good work!

Jeremy

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Start at exxon and work to the north between 5 and 125', 3 flats of pogys, fluuro about 40lb and use the boat to pull them off like ajs and grouper. Back up to the platform and chum 1 inch chunks acouple of handfuls and if they don't rush the boat move on. J hooks, no circles for some reason. NO weight at all and locked down drag. Tell the boys to hold on when you gun it . Just like chunkin for tuna, HIDE YOUR HOOK , just push it in the chunk so it comes right out. It's alot of fun with liberal limits One more thing, use a big dipnet instead of a gaff, trust me

Mike

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Galazio, the turquoise rig 40 mile out is loaded usually this time of year, head at exxon and hit every rig between. The water is a huge factor and you want it at least a little green If it is way offcolor go a bit further offshore.
Mike