With the exception of a lane snapper, “when you see a button, it’s a mutton.”
Mutton snapper is one of the most sought-after game fish in the ocean. As the water temperature cools down, the mutton snapper move in closer to the reefs, to intercept the bait fish. Ballyhoo, pilchards, speedos, goggle eyes, pinfish and several other bait fish migrate to the reefs and shallower waters as the water temperature cools. So, it all has to do with the food chain.
We’ve caught mutton snapper on live shrimp and dead shrimp, live mullet and dead mullet. We’ve even caught mutton snapper on mullet gizzards while fishing for yellowtail snapper. Most avid mutton snapper anglers agree on two things. One is that the best way to get a mutton bite is by using a long leader from the sinker to the hook. The other is that mutton snapper prefer to feed on the sand bottom.
Regarding the length and size of the leader – some swear by a leader no longer than 20 feet and no heavier than 40-pound test, while some swear by a leader 50 feet long or longer and 50-pound test mono or heavier. Some anglers say the important thing is to use a heavy enough sinker that it holds the bottom, and some anglers say just the opposite: You should use the smallest sinker that will get the bait to the bottom but still allow it to bounce along in the current.
When mutton fishermen fish a wreck, they typically don’t fish directly on the wreck for the mutton. They fish around the wreck in the sandy spots bored out from the current surrounding the wreck. If they fish a reef or a ledge, they won’t drop down on the rocky parts of the reef or ledge – they’ll drop down on the pockets of sand between the reefy spots.
Mutton snapper are very finicky eaters. We found during warmer months that a butterflied ballyhoo or a chunk of fresh bait works the best. We believe the reason is that during the warmer months, the mutton snapper are more lethargic in the warm water and less likely to chase a bait. Vertical jigging can work well during the warmer months too.
During the cooler months when the mutton snapper are less lethargic and more apt to actively chase live bait, we like to drop down live pinfish, mullet, ballyhoo, pilchards, goggle eyes, speedos, and any and all other bait that they feed on naturally to “match the hatch.”
When using a dead bait, we like to use a bigger hook buried or hidden in the dead or cut bait. When using live bait, we like to use a smaller hook so the live bait can swim more naturally and won’t be hindered by the hook. During the warmer months, mutton snapper are prevalent outside 150 feet deep, but during the cooler months, they come inside of this depth.
The bag limit on mutton snapper is five per person with an aggregate of 10 per day, and each fish must measure 18 inches from the tip of the bottom lip to the tip of the pinched tail down the lateral line of the fish. In my opinion, a mutton snapper tastes very similar to the meat of a mangrove snapper, whereas a yellowtail snapper tastes more like a queen snapper. Mutton meat is white, firm and flaky, and some of the best table fare in the world. Go out and give mutton snapper a try. They fight hard, they are a challenge to get and they’re great to eat.
To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-267-4401 or Capt. Jojo at 305-879-0564, or visit anabananafishing.com.
