Florida Snapper Psychology

It's common with Red Snapper to find them high in the water column even in 100+ feet of water. This school of fish was brought to within 20 ft of the surface in 200' of water using cut sardines. When fishing for these midwater fish, with little or no current a free-lined sardine or chunk with 60-100# fluorocarbon leader will do the trick when paired with a circle hook.

The clear water on the surface belies the reality of colder green water on the bottom in summer on our coast. Snapper "chicken rigs" with double hook set ups are not the prettiest fishing set ups but when snapper numbers are as incredible as they are right now, any bait on any rig dropped near structure in 70-200' will produce a hit. This 22lb Red Snapper was a first for John Dornellas and fell for the illusion of more chum coming down when in reality it was a deadly hunter in camouflage.

The clear water on the surface belies the reality of colder green water on the bottom in summer on our coast. Snapper "chicken rigs" with double hook set ups are not the prettiest fishing set ups but when snapper numbers are as incredible as they are right now, any bait on any rig dropped near structure in 70-200' will produce a hit. This 22lb Red Snapper was a first for John Dornellas and fell for the illusion of more chum coming down when in reality it was a deadly hunter in camouflage.

Cameron Kirkconnell films a school of Red Snapper when a giant manta ray passes by.