Captain’s Corner: Ed Walker

The Tampa Bay Times

By Ed Walker

A recent trip out to 80 feet of water yielded a great catch of big mangrove snapper. We were pleasantly surprised when our heavier rods rigged for red grouper produced several snapper in the 7 pound class. We quickly lowered a chum block halfway to the bottom and gave it a good shake. Soon the sonar lit up with a large show of fish. We switched to lighter tackle and smaller sinkers and enjoyed a wide-open mangrove snapper bite for a half hour. The biggest were over 8 pounds.

We did try to chum the fish to the surface where we could freeline for them but they refused to come above the thermocline. To get them to bite we used 25 pound test monofilament with no leader. A ½ ounce sinker was rigged on the line in a knocker rig style. This was just enough weight to get it the fishes level without be obtrusive and scaring the big ones away.

The key to hooking them was to let them move off with the bait before tightening the line. Mangrove snapper often hold a bait partially in their mouth and swim off with it, transmitting a gentle tug through the line. Setting the hook early will result in a lost bait and no fish. Being patient and not responding to the first 3 or 4 tugs on the line took a little getting used to be ended up making a big difference.