| Where to fish for Yellowtail Snapper in the Florida | | | | current in your present location. You may have to |
| Keys. | | | | anchor a few different times before you get the |
| This beautiful place called the Florida Keys takes | | | | hang of what the current is doing to your boat |
| on hundreds of thousands of visitors each year at | | | | and your chum. This process typically gets easier |
| different times of the year. Many come to take | | | | as your experience level increases. |
| advantage of our abundant fisheries around the | | | | Equipment and bait used |
| islands and one of the main targets for that | | | | Light tackle is all that is required for Yellowtailing, a |
| fishing is Yellowtail Snapper. A premium spot more | | | | medium weight rod with a small spinning reel |
| specifically is the ocean side reefs off of | | | | and10-15lb test. Your jig weight is determined by |
| Islamorada, Florida. These fish like structure of | | | | a combination of the depth of the water and the |
| almost any kind. The larger of the species are | | | | speed of the current. A perfect set up would be |
| found throughout the ocean side reefs of virtually | | | | to have your jig and bait following the same path |
| any of the keys in anywhere from 25 feet to | | | | the chum is down to the fish. Some casting out |
| 140 feet of water. They are found deeper than | | | | into the flow of chum may be necessary here |
| 140 feet but it's harder to anchor the boat and | | | | because most of the time, your jig would drop |
| get the chum to work in anything deeper than | | | | faster from the back of the boat outside the |
| that. The key is to find some structure. A wreck, | | | | chum slick. A Variety of bait will work for snapper |
| bridge rubble, coral heads, etc... Please pay | | | | fishing. One of the favorites is live shrimp. |
| attention to sanctuary areas marked by yellow | | | | Typically about $3/dozen, it's also inexpensive live |
| buoys. The do show up on most GPS's but they | | | | bait. Alot of times once you have fish up behind |
| are occasionally moved. These areas are off limits | | | | the boat in a feeding frenzy, you can switch to |
| to most anglers, the only anglers allowed to fish in | | | | cut bait of almost any kind and they will eat it. |
| them hold special permits to do so. | | | | Squid, cut ballyhoo, cut bonita, etc.. Bigger |
| Positioning the boat | | | | (smarter) fish especially during daylight hours may |
| Once you've established either by site or | | | | require you to bring along some extra chum that |
| electronically that you have structure were the | | | | you've mixed up in a bucket with some sand and |
| fish will be, it's time to position the boat. Right | | | | dry oats. It should have a consistency that allows |
| now is a great time to put a block of chum in a | | | | you to make loose, gooey chum balls to toss |
| bag and hang it over the side. The deeper the | | | | behind the boat into the current. This technique |
| water, the longer it takes to reach your target | | | | works because it just puts more stuff in the |
| structure and there's nothing wrong with doing a | | | | water, getting the fish excited and somewhat |
| little extra chumming while you position and | | | | blinds them to the fact that there is a hook in the |
| anchor the boat. You have to determine the | | | | bait being dropped as well as a line attached to it. |
| direction of the current. If you are in deeper | | | | Another technique for finding the larger once is |
| water, say 80-100 ft, it will also help if you can at | | | | once you have fish behind the boat eating, try |
| least somewhat, determine the speed of the | | | | casting a slightly larger live bait (a pilchard, or a |
| current as well. The idea is to position the boat so | | | | pinfish) out much farther than were you are |
| that the current takes the chum you are using | | | | currently catching the smaller ones. They like to |
| directly to, or in close enough proximity to the | | | | hang back behind the smaller fish sometimes. |
| structure to draw the fish to you, ie, they have | | | | Please take the time to read the Florida fishing |
| to smell it in order for it to work. You can't | | | | regulations and guidelines for information on size |
| always count on the current going the same way. | | | | (currently 12 inches) and limits for the particular |
| Different reef structures ahead of you in the | | | | area you are fishing. Have fun! |
| current can sometimes deflect and change the | | | | |