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What's hot: Snapper fishing this time of year is tremendous. We are lucky to have so many different species in our waters. Most wrecks in depths of 80 feet or more are holding schools of mangrove and yellowtail snapper.
Tactics: One effective way to target these species over wrecks or other high-relief areas is to free-line baits on smaller spinning rods. To do this, anchor a bit up tide from the target area. Set out a couple of chum blocks, then cut small pieces of sardine and start a slow but steady chum line. If the snapper are there, they will follow the chum up through the water column to the stern of the boat. Sometimes they can even be seen 10 to 20 feet under the boat, so it's time to break out the light tackle and start fishing. A medium to light spinning rod with 10- to 15-pound test works best. Our terminal tackle includes an 18- to 24-inch length of 30-pound fluorocarbon leader attached to the main line via line-to-line knot (no swivel) and 5/0 circle hook. Cut a sardine the same size as the chum that was tossed in. The idea behind this rig is to have the bait blend in with the chum, and because there is no weight, it will fall slowly and stay in the strike zone for a long time.
Steve Papen charters out of Indian Shores and can be reached at fintasticinc.com or (727) 642-3411
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