John's Journal...
Entry
101, Day 5
How to Catch Red Snapper
EDITOR'S
NOTE: Mike Parker, the captain of the "Silver King," a charter boat
based out of Destin, Florida, rarely fishes more than 10 miles off the
beach, unlike many other charter-boat captains. And Parker daily produces
really good numbers of bottom feeders and pelagic species. This week we'll
look at how, where and when Parker fishes.
Question: Mike, what bait do you like to use for
red snapper?
Answer: I prefer to fish with live herring, live cigar minnows
or a live pinfish. If I can't get live bait, I like to use cut bonita
strips or cut dead cigar minnows.
Question: How will you rig for snapper?
Answer: I use 40-pound test main line with a 5- to 8-ounce slip
lead up the main line. Below the slip lead, I'll tie on a barrel swivel
and to the other end of the barrel swivel, I'll tie 2 to 3 feet of 30-
to 40-pound-test monofilament leader. Or, I'll use fluorocarbon leader
to keep the line as invisible as possible. On the end of the leader, I'll
tie a circle hook and then bait my live bait just in front of the eyes.
Question:
Why do you like a circle hook instead of a straight hook?
Answer: The circle hook will catch the snapper in their mouths
and rarely in the gut like a straight hook often does. Since we're releasing
all our undersized snapper, doing as little damage to those fish as possible
is very important to me. Another advantage to using a circle hook is that
once you're hooked-up, vary rarely will the snapper throw the circle hook.
I've also noticed that you lose fewer fish with the circle hook than with
the straight hook.
Question: When you fish with the circle hook,
when and how do you set the hook?
Answer: When the snapper has taken the bait, the fish will bounce
the rod tip two or three times. You really have to fight the urge to pull
back on the rod and set the hook. But instead of setting the hook when
you feel the bite, wait for the snapper to take the hook. Then when the
snapper has the hook in the right position in its mouth, the rod will
begin to bend. As the rod starts to bend, begin reeling. Don't pull the
rod up. The number-one rule to remember when you fish a circle hook is
never to jerk up on the rod to attempt to set the hook like you do when
you're bass fishing.
Question:
When you've got the fish on, how do you fight it to the boat?
Answer: The first 10 seconds after you're sure the snapper is on
the line, lift and reel down, and then lift and reel down some more. Then
after you've got the snapper off the bottom, just reel slow and steadily.
Question: How do you get the snapper onboard?
Answer: I prefer to use a dip net to land snapper. If I don't have
a dip net onboard, I'll try and gaff the fish in the mouth to keep from
damaging any of the meat.
To
learn more about Captain Mike Parker's offshore fishing trips, call (877)
827-7667, or go to the www.destincharterboats.com
website.
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