Snapper
Snapper are the backbone of Key West reef fishing. Yellowtail, mangrove, mutton, lane, and the occasional red snapper all share the same reefs and patch bottom just a short ride from the dock, and they bite well enough that first-time anglers and kids usually get into fish within the first hour. The tackle is light, the drops are shallow enough to feel every bite, and the reward is a cooler of some of the best-eating fish in Florida. Snapper trips are also the most forgiving choice when the weather is unsettled, because the reef and patch bottom stay fishable on days when running offshore would be rough.
Book a Snapper CharterAverage Size
2-15 lbs depending on species
Peak Season
Year-round
Food Quality
Excellent
Record Size
50 lbs (red snapper)
Best Season for Snapper in Key West
Snapper fishing in Key West produces all twelve months of the year, which is why it anchors so many family trips. Yellowtail tend to school hardest over the reef in spring and summer, when chumming brings them up behind the boat in numbers. Bigger mangrove snapper move onto the reef and wrecks in the summer spawning months, and winter often gives up the heaviest mutton snapper on the deeper patch bottom. Calm days and moving tides are the two conditions that matter most, and because there are productive reefs at several depths, your captain can almost always find snapper water regardless of wind direction.
Table Fare
Snapper is one of the finest eating fish in Florida. The white, flaky fillets are mild and sweet, they fry and grill beautifully, and yellowtail are excellent cooked whole. Everything you keep within legal size and bag limits is cleaned and bagged at the dock, and plenty of Key West restaurants will cook your catch for you that evening.
Fishing Techniques
- Chumming the reef with light tackle
- Bottom fishing patch reefs and ledges
- Live and fresh cut baiting
- Fluorocarbon leaders for wary fish in clear water
Fun Facts
- •Some snapper species can live over 50 years
- •Red snapper season is limited due to conservation efforts
- •Yellowtail snapper are unique to the Florida Keys and Caribbean
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Species & Fishing Trips
Different species are targeted during different seasons, locations, and trip styles. Explore the best Key West fishing trips for targeting these fish.
Ready to Catch Snapper?
Book your Key West fishing charter today and experience world-class snapper fishing with our expert captains.
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