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