Lutjanus griseus
Illustrations and Copyright by Diane Rome Peebles
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Description: color dark brown or gray
with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides;
dark horizontal band from snout through eye (young only);
two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw;
dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders; no dark spot
on side underneath dorsal fin.
Similar Fish: cubera snapper, L.
cyanopterus.
Where found: juveniles INSHORE in
tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally
NEARSHORE or OFFSHORE on coral or rocky reefs.
Size: offshore catches common 8
to 10 pounds.
*Florida Record: 16 lbs., 8 ozs.
Remarks: spawns June
through August; feeds on crustaceans and small fish.
First of all remember –
they call these fish
mangrove snapper
for a reason. They
do stay in and around the
mangroves. And while these mangroves are home
mainly to the small to medium size fish, even the larger
sizes can be found there.
So let’s go: Look on your
map for Bahia Honda. The state park there has a launch
ramp and we will run north into Florida Bay from the
ramp about 3 miles. Look for Friend Key, Teakettle
Key, Sandfly Key and Hardup Key. Take note of the
water depth around these keys. The tidal currents
run around these keys, and although the map does not
reveal it, the water will be deeper on one side of
these little islands than on the other. Generally
a flat will show on one side and not the other. On
a high tide, you can idle up to the edge of the mangroves
on the deep side of the island (deep is a relative
term here – we’re talking about water
two feet deep. What the map does not show is that
the mangroves are undercut and the water depth drops
off from about two feet to sometimes over eight feet
under the mangroves.
Move slowly and quietly and look for fish movement.
Not many anglers get this close because the shallow
water flat surrounding these islands hides this deeper
water.
When you stop the boat look for movement in the water
under the mangroves. Nine times out of ten, you will
locate a school of hungry mangrove snapper. Live shrimp
on a bare hook with no weight is the bait of choice.
But we have also caught them using a small red and
white nylon jig with a small piece of cut bait on
the hook. With the boat anchored a good casting distance
from the mangroves, cast right up next to the limbs
and let the bait drift down. With a jig, work it up
and down more than in a line back to the boat.
For some more mangrove islands that will hold these
snapper look at the Budd Keys north of Cudjoe Key.
There is a deep undercut around the western most key,
and fish are almost always there.
These are excellent locations, easy to reach and
I can almost guarantee that fish will be there. I
have fished every one of these locations and been
very successful.
Oh, and while you are catching snapper, don’t
be surprised to find a jewfish or two (goliath grouper)
in and around the mangrove roots. Juvenile fish up
to about 60 pounds along with small nurse sharks are
common in these holes. If you catch one, release it.
They are currently totally protected from any type
of harvest.
One more thing – they call these fish snappers
for a reason as well. You will see what I mean when
you catch your first one. Very sharp teeth with upper
and lower canines can really hurt if your finger happens
to get in the way.
Mangrove snapper are my personal favorite fish to
eat. They have a light, sweet, flaky meat that is
great broiled, baked or fried. Try it broiled with
butter and let me know what you think!
Mangrove snapper on the Florida Keys - no
wonder the guides seem to have it so easy!
