Red snapper season is open through October 26th, and the fishing out of Crystal River right now is exactly what you want to see at the start of a season. Large numbers of fish are showing up in the 80 to 100 mile range, the quality is there, and we’ve been putting together solid catches with both live bait and artificial presentations. If filling the freezer with quality fish is the goal, the timing is right.
Red Snapper and Red Grouper Are Both Producing
The 80 to 100 mile range is where we’re concentrating our efforts, and both red snapper and red grouper are showing up in strong numbers out there. These aren’t small fish. The grouper are active and feeding, and the snapper are exactly what you’d hope to find at the start of an open season. We’ve been mixing live bait and artificial techniques depending on conditions, and both approaches have been working. When the fish are this willing and this numerous, a well-executed offshore run turns into one of those trips people talk about for a while.
Mangrove Snapper Are Nonstop Action
From 35 feet all the way out to 120 feet, the mangrove snapper bite has been exceptional. These fish are aggressive, they eat well, and when you’re on a good piece of bottom, they will keep rods bent for the better part of a day. For clients who want sustained action in addition to targeting the bigger species, mangrove snapper fill that role perfectly. It’s not uncommon to mix red snapper and grouper into a trip where the mangroves are keeping things busy between the bigger bites.
Why Now Is the Time to Book
Red snapper season runs through October 26th, which sounds like plenty of time until you start looking at the calendar. October comes fast, and the best weather windows for long offshore runs tend to cluster in the earlier part of the season before fall patterns set in. We’re running a new 35-foot offshore center console this season, which gives us more capability and more comfort on longer runs to the productive grounds. If you want to target trophy fish and bring home a box worth having, this is the season and these are the conditions to do it in.
