Anglers report the mangrove snapper bite is on fire
The dog days of late summer are to mangrove snapper as the chill of late winter is to sheepshead here on the Suncoast. While many anglers are carping about the squirreliness of many inshore species right now, most are reporting mangoes to be on fire.
It was not that many years ago, before the state imposed any really meaningful bag and size limits on these scrappy and tasty panfish, they were not that plentiful and ran the size of your average fresh water bream. It did not take long after some stricter bag and size limits for the population and average size started to climb.
While the inshore mangoes do not attain the 6-7 pound heft of their offshore brethren, they do regularly reach a length of 18 inches or more which is a chunky slab.
Inshore tips:Artificial lures good option for mid-summer inshore fishing
Shore-bound angler options: Some fishing options for the shore-bound angler
Mangroves do not go for artificials as a rule inshore, but may take a small shrimp sweetened jig or deep-fished clouser. Live baits such as small shrimp, pinfish, grunts, pilchards and creek chubs, will all take more than their share of the dog-toothed scrappers.
Just about any inshore or nearshore structure will hold its share of snapper this time of year. Bridge, pier, dock pilings, rock piles, ledges and sunken vessels all deserve a look as long as there is a decent tidal flow. They prefer a slower stage of the tide and will shut down if the current becomes too strong.
Mangrove (gray) snapper are open the year round in Gulf state and federal waters. In state waters, the bag limit is 5 per angler per day with a 10-inch minimum size (overall). In federal waters the bag is 10 per angler per day (10 snapper aggregate bag) with a 12-inch minimum size limit (overall).Circle hooks are now required when targeting any reef fish, inshore and off.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Anglers report the mangrove snapper bite is on fire
