1. red snapper are very sensitive to tackle.  Generally use light line that is same color as where you are fishing and dark colored hooks that the redsnapper can't see . also an open face spinning outfit is the way to go for a rod and reel selection. Make sure it is salt water gear. You will be surprised produce more and bigger fish.

2. always be ready for a bite at anytime. If your in the right spot , you will be able to guess when the red snapper will take your hook. After a few bites you will learn to set   the hook before you feel the fish take the bait.

3. Chumming .  Sometimes you can bring snapper to the surface by throwing out chum or hanging a chum bag overboard. I recommend you do this every time you go fishing i chum when ever i go fishing for any kind of fish.

4. Lower your chum bag up current from the reef you are fishing on. This will get the fish coming to you and away from the reef or structure you are fishing.
red snapper habitat

Saltwater structure and wreck fishing 

The term "Wreck fishing" is when you fish rough bottom, artificial reefs, and shipwrecks.  The methods and descriptions are generic and can be used for all saltwater areas and locations. This section highlights  on fishing specific species but more specific information about individual  fish speciesis is available elsewhere on this site.

Finding good structure is trickly buisness and takes some research and practice. But with practice you can become a good fisherman. Depending on where you plan to fish or where you are located, there is allot of public information on where old ship wrecks and plane wrecks are located. This type of structure will hold many different species of fish. One of the best ways to find wrecks when you first get stated is to follow the charter captians, if you pull up to a wreck and the charters are pulling in fish, stop and try your luck. Make sure you document the gps location so you can come back at a later date.

Today, you can find information about wrecks from many sources, there are books, webpages, and user forums to aid you in finding good fishing spots.  An easy structure to seach for on the internet artificial reefs. Theses Locations are widely published and many of the structures are large and easily found.

When you locate a wreck don't drop anchor right away. Make three or four passes around the wreck in a circling mothing documenting depths so you can determine the layout of the wreck . There maybe many brocken pieces around the main wreck that will hold fish too.  Also make sure you monitor your sonar to make sure fish are there. some wrecks are only seasonal. Also your sonar can give you clues as to the type of fish species that is located at the wreck.

Bait and tackle
 You need to prepare before you make your trip. Do some research as to what live bait is best to bring along.  I recomend you use medium to heavy action rods with conventional reels. Make sure all your tackle is saltwater quality. I use 30lb spiderwire line. I recomend you make up some quick change leader about 24 " long that can easily be replaced when you get a snag. tie on a swivel clip on your main line that way you can change or replace rigs quickly. make sure your rig has has the sinker on the bottom and a #4/0 hook about 18" above it. Make sure the rig at the top has a hangmens noose type clip.  Before any trip i catch good live bait for the trip. Click Hereto see how i catch the live bait.  Different fish species take different baits. for example, red snapper feed on live sardine and cigar minnows , mackerel feed on small herring, squid and shrimp,Tautog like hard crabs or clams. Trout eat only squid or clams. for fresh cutbait cut up into strips, Dolphinfish, skipjack tuna or false albacore. Sea bass will bite on any bait, but Squid is the basic sea bass bait. if you are going for larger sea bas then you need to fish with large cut bait strips. The larger sea bass will be located in the schools of smaler fish. The smaller fish may pick at your large strip baits but they cannot swallow it. Larger fish will hold back until they see larger baits. You won't catch as many fish, but they will all be of the larger sizes.




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