Catching Red Snapper in State Waters

The Wide Open Outdoor Adventure Crew went to Corpus Christi, Texas to test out a new ShallowSport X3 Bay Boat from Gulf Coast Marine and hunt for some Red Snapper in State Waters.

We met up with the infamous Captain Doug Stanford; you will remember him from a prior show where we caught sharks offshore. We were with the right guy to get the job done. Dave and Doug left the Billings Bait Stand area and headed straight for the Packery Channel, the newest opening to the Gulf of Mexico on the Texas Coast. This new jetty system enables fish to migrate offshore and spawn; it allows fresh seawater to come into the Back Bay system loaded with nutrients that fish and plant life really need. Microbial organisms start the entire food chain; therefore, jetties are a really important part of the ecosystem.

The boys set their sights on Red Snapper in State Waters. They went only eight miles offshore to the platforms and caught fish right away. Tony D, the main Wide Open fishing camera-man was on board to capture it all on HD video.  

The seas were calm and the wind was light. Too cool. 

Doug immediately had a big oversized Redfish and Dave then caught a Blue Fish. The bite was on instantly. 

But, the boys were looking for Red Snapper -- were they there? You bet they were! They caught over 25 snappers, sometimes two at a time, with the double-drop rigs that Doug had pre-rigged. The weights that they used were 8 oz to 16 oz, depending on the current. There was alot of current, and Dave thought that the current really turned on the bite. Doug said the same thing but added that these fish are opportunistic; they will wait for bait to come to them and position themselves in the down current side, adjacent to the structure, so Doug and Dave knew where to drop their baits. Like Dave always says -- “Knowledge is Power in the Wide Open Outdoors.”

Dave’s Angler Notes:

The northern red snapper's narrow body is very similar in shape to other snappers, such as the mangrove snapper, mutton snapper, lane snapper, and dog snapper. They have a narrow sloped profile, medium-to-large scales, a spiny dorsal fin that can cut the heck out of you if you're not aware, and basically a laterally compressed body. Northern red snappers have short, sharp, needle-like teeth. Keep in mind that they lack the distinctive upper canine teeth found on the mutton fish, dog fish, and mangrove snappers. Dave knows all too well not to get too close to the mangrove snappers mouth -- they will bite and hold on!

Okay, back to the fish -- These snappers reach maturity at a length of about 39 cm (15 in). The boys caught them in their common adult length is 60 cm (24 in).  They did not catch the bigger ones that can reach 100 cm (39 in).

What about the records? The maximum published weight is 38.5 kg (85 lb), and the oldest reported age is 100+ years. These fish are beautiful; they are light red, with more intense pigment on the back. Dave calls them ORANGE. They have 10 dorsal spines, 14 soft dorsal rays, three anal spines and eight to nine anal soft rays.

Let’s talk habitat -- When they are youngsters and in a newly spawned state, red snappers settle over large areas of open benthic habitat. These young fish will look for low-relief habitats for food and cover. If you can find oyster shell beds, you will find these guys. At about age 2, snappers seek high-relief reefs. Next, they look for platforms. If you want bigger fish, look for them in deeper water. Smaller snappers occupy the upper water column.

A northern red snapper begins breeding at two to five years old, and an adult snapper can live for more than 50 years. If you really want to know, research from 1999-2001 suggested the populations of red snapper off the coast of Texas reach maturity faster and at a smaller size than populations off the Louisiana and Alabama coast.

Talk about good eating -- The northern red snapper is a prized-food fish, caught commercially, as well as recreationally.

Red snapper is the most commonly caught snapper in the continental USA (almost 50% of the total catch), with similar species being more common elsewhere. Dave and Doug really smoked the fish, and they were worn out after this day of fishing. They used shrimp and whole sardines as bait, however snapper also will take artificial lures, but with much less vigor.

Keep in mind that recreational fishing for northern red snapper has been popular for a long time, restricted mostly by fishing limits intended to ensure a sustainable population.

Managing populations is always a concern.  The first minimum size limit was introduced in 1984; it was because of a 1981 report showing quickly declining harvests (both commercial and recreational). Populations are good now, and anglers take up to 4.0 million fish per year.

Since 1990, the total catch limit for northern red snapper has been divided into 49% for recreational fishermen and 51% for commercial.

Commercial and recreational fishing for red snapper has been a major industry in the Gulf of Mexico, but permit restrictions and changes in the quota system for commercial snapper fishermen in the Gulf have made the fish less commercially available.

There are always concerns; researchers estimate the by-catch of young red snappers, especially by shrimp trawlers, is a significant concern.

We have an amazing opportunity to catch these awesome fish! Keep in mind that in countries such as India, where the actual red snapper is not available in its oceans, John snapper, Russell snapper, or a tomato red snapper are sold as "red snapper."

Current Texas Parks and Wildlife Rules allowed Dave and Doug to keep up to 4 fish per person, and they had to be at least 15 inches long. (Daily Bag 4--minimum 15 inches with NO maximum length) They had good rod bending action -- eight fish came home for eating!

Thanks for your time, and as Dave always says ---

“We’ll See You In The Wide Open Outdoors!!!"