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Mangrove snapper not just an offshore fish

By DAVID A. BROWN
Published September 2, 2006

It was like watching bees buzzing forth from their nest to confront a trespasser. I tossed my weedless gold spoon toward a fish-looking shoreline, and when I retrieved it across a deep bottom depression, a swarm of little water warriors surrounded the lure in obvious aggression.

It was a bunch of juvenile mangrove snapper that had been hiding in the shadows of an undercut ledge in the rocky bottom outside Chassohowitzka. Feisty, fired up and ready to bite something, this little gang typified an often overlooked Nature Coast angling opportunity.

If you think these fish are strictly an offshore species, think again. Granted, the majority of mature fish live in deep water, but juveniles cut their teeth in shallow coastal backwaters. Mangrove basins, rocky bays, nearshore limestone outcroppings and residential canals all harbor loads of little snapper.

Like most Florida saltwater species, mangroves can't resist fresh shrimp. But before we go any further, this fish gets its name from a quick set of jaws. Summarily, a large bait hung nonchalantly on a single hook is nothing more than an appetizer with a hazard at one end.

The key is small bites; just enough bait to cover the hook point is good. Make the fish commit to grabbing the mouthful of food so you have a better chance of setting the hook.

Braided line helps this cause, as its non-stretch nature ensures that the fish feels every ounce of pressure you impart. Just make sure you apply pressure properly.

That means avoiding macho, rod-jerking hook sets. Snapper can spit a hook as fast as they can bite it, so telegraphing trouble with what usually amounts to little more than an awkward tug just tells the fish to let go.

Armed with 6½- to 7-foot medium-action spinning outfits carrying 10- to 15-pound braid and 18 inches of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader, let the snapper pull your line straight and then quickly reel down tight on the fish. This steady pressure will sink the hook before your opponent can react.

Because snapper have such sensitive noses, chumming can often stimulate lethargic fish and call in others from a distance. (Snapper normally won't travel far from their fortress, but the smell of free chow and the commotion of other fish already feeding can bring them running.)

When strong tidal flow puts snapper in the food mood, you'll rarely need to chum. Anything passing their doorstep is likely to get bitten. That means artificials too, so don't be surprised if your redfish jig or a jerkbait twitched for snook ends up in a snapper's jaws.

One thing to keep in mind when dehooking is that even baby snapper have teeth, and you can bet that they know just how to use them. Many hapless anglers have suffered cuts, slashes and eye-watering finger piercings when they ventured too close to a snapper's jaws.

These little fiends will lie perfectly still - on a dock, on a seawall or at the bottom of a boat - until you reach down to remove the hook. All is quiet and still, and then bam! You have a hole in your finger.

Needlenose pliers and long-handle hook-outs will spare you such pain. And if you catch a mangrove snapper measuring at least 10 inches overall, you'll have the makings of a fine fish dinner.

The daily aggregate is five mangrove snapper, and that's included in the daily aggregate of 10 snapper (any open species).

BEACH DAYS

Labor Day weekend usually sees a lot of folks heading to the coast for various water-sports fun. One of the simplest - swimming - can quickly turn tragic when carelessness takes over.

The American Red Cross offers these tips for keeping yourself and your family members safe in the water:

- Know your or your child's abilities. Don't try to swim in water over chest deep if you aren't able to. If you can't swim, keep your feet on the bottom.

- If you are swimming in an area designated for swimming, follow the posted rules. If there are no rules posted, it may not be a safe area to swim.

- Try to swim in supervised areas with lifeguards on duty.

- Make the family's rules based on swimming ability - those who can swim better get more freedom.

- Look for the dangerous "too's" - too tired, too drunk, too much sun, too far from safety, too much strenuous activity.

- Know the area you swim in, the shallows and the hazards.

- Only dive when the area is clear and deep enough. If you are unsure of the area, always enter the water feet first (jump or walk in).

- Stay sober. Alcohol and drugs affect balance, judgment, coordination, swimming skills and the body's ability to stay warm.

Complement this advice with a constant awareness of boats and personal watercraft. Never assume that everyone will respect swimming areas and keep a safe distance in non-posted areas. Remember, holiday weekends should be a time of rest and relaxation, not rescue. But enjoying the former means taking the necessary steps to avoid the latter.

[Last modified September 2, 2006, 06:41:21]