| Snappers are found in the tropical and | | | | bait of your hook. Sandball for Yellowtails & |
| subtropical regions of all the oceans. One of | | | | Flat Lining - Filet your ballyhoo & squid & |
| the most popular and best eating of the | | | | then cut them into strips. Then mix your chum |
| snapper species, the yellowtail snapper | | | | & sand for sandballs - 60% sand & 40% chum. |
| ranges as far north as the Treasure Coast but | | | | Make sure your chum is oily. Always add the |
| are in their greatest abundance in the | | | | chum to the sand. Mix chum until there are no |
| Bahamas and the Florida Keys. During days | | | | dry areas. Mixing some oats into the sand |
| around the full moon, you will probably have | | | | chum will help you catch more yellowtail. Put |
| excellent catches of the mutton snappers. | | | | the hooked ballyhoo bait into the middle of a |
| Yellowtail snapper is one of the best eating | | | | sandball. Wrap your line around the sandball |
| fish in the entire tropical roster of fish | | | | & then throw your bait out into the chum |
| only eclipsed by the pricey yellowfin tuna | | | | slick. Let the line feed out as the current |
| steaks. The small size of the fish adds only | | | | goes until you feel the fish strike the line |
| to its succulent taste. Typical catches of | | | | & pull on your bait. Fishing Tackle - Use the |
| yellowtail range from the 10-12 lb size. This | | | | smallest hooks, 1/0 or smaller, you can find |
| fish is so versatile that it can be cooked in | | | | & small conventional reels. Shimano 10 lb |
| any number of ways with any number of sauces | | | | spinners for fighting those yellowtail, so |
| & still come out superbly delicious. | | | | everyone gets to enjoy the challenge. We also |
| Yellowtails are characterized by its yellow | | | | recommend bright colored jigs to attract the |
| mid body stripe that extends into its yellow | | | | fish. 12- 15 lb test is the best for these |
| tail, the sleek and abundant yellowtail | | | | fish. Use a pink line so that the fish cannot |
| snapper swims in loose groups well off the | | | | see the line in the water. A #4 hook up to a |
| bottom. There is a 12-inch minimum size limit | | | | 1/0 and a 1/8 oz weight will be best on your |
| and 10 snapper aggregate bag limit. June will | | | | rig for flat lining or sandballing. Finding |
| be a good time, weather permitting, for night | | | | Yellowtail - Look for a sharp drop off on the |
| offshore fishing for mangrove, lane and | | | | edge of the reef. This is where you will find |
| yellowtail snapper. Bait for Yellowtail | | | | small stacks of fish & plenty of bottom life |
| Snappers - Weighted live bait will produce | | | | to support the bait fish. Your Loran or GPS |
| grouper & mutton snapper sometimes following | | | | will tell you where the best drop offs are. |
| in the chum slick. Depending on the time of | | | | Conclusion Swordfish, Marlin, Sailfish, |
| year you might also catch Kingfish and Cero | | | | Dolphin, Cobia, Wahoo, Tuna and Kingfish are |
| Mackerel. Use Live Ballyhoo whenever | | | | just a few of the species we catch off the |
| possible. When yellowtails pull drag on 20 | | | | Southeast Florida Coast. We catch Most of our |
| pound spin tackle, you know you have a good | | | | dolphin while fishing for Tuna. Whether |
| yellowtail on. Cut pieces of squid, small | | | | gunning for tuna, marlin or dolphin, Fish 'em |
| pilchards and even live shrimp are productive | | | | all with Live Bait!! Instructional DVDs on |
| baits for yellowtail snapper. Sardines, | | | | How to Throw a Cast Net, Yellowtail & Mutton |
| silverside and glass minnows will also work | | | | Snapper fishing, Live Bait Trolling, and |
| well. You'll also need frozen chum to put in | | | | more!! |
| bags to chum up the water behind the boat. | | | | |
| Chum up the water heavy at first. When you | | | | Marilyn Davis has been fishing the Florida |
| start to get a good bite of yellowtail, ease | | | | Keys for over 20 years a nd is the Webmaster |
| off on the chum so that they will feed on the | | | | for the Florida Keys Info-Net. |