Anyone who fishes the Florida Keys patch reefs invariably hooks into a prized jewel: the mutton snapper. They are fantastic in the frying pan as well as hefty battlers that put up an arm-wrenching fight.
Generally, when anglers target mutton snapper on inshore 25- to 40-foot patch reefs, most of the fish are in the 1- to 3-pound-class and are considered decent sized. However, if you push a little farther offshore into 80 to 100 feet of water inside the drop, you’ll find massive muttons on these deeper patch reefs. These mutant mutton snapper often weigh 12 to 15 pounds and heavier.
The Right Gear for Mutton Snapper
In early December, I set out from Big Pine Key with Capt. Kevin Rowley of Tight-N-Up Charters to film an episode of Saltwater Underground. The plan was to target monster mutton snapper by dropping live baits on patch reefs. Rowley is outfitted with 7-foot medium to heavy Blackfin Offshore Elite conventional rods matched with Penn Fathom 40s. You could substitute Daiwa Saltiga 40 or Shimano Torium 20 reels. Spool up with 30-pound-test monofilament line, an appropriate 4- to 8-ounce egg sinker, a 150-pound-class barrel swivel, then a 30-foot length of 50-pound shock leader and a size 2/0 Mustad Octopus hook or Mustad Circle hook. A large live pilchard is picked out of the livewell and hooked through the nostrils or through the lower and upper jaw.
How to Fish Deep Patch Reefs for Mutton Snapper
Capt. Rowley finds his perfect patch reef, and instead of anchoring, he drifts over the reef, running three rods and keeping the baits behind the boat off the stern. When the engines are out of gear, toss the bait and the long leader by hand off the stern away from the engines and drop the egg sinker in, monitoring a measured free spool until the bait hits bottom. Capt. Rowley says, “Baits should be glued to the bottom.” Drifts may be swift, so keep letting line out until you hit the bottom, then engage the reel on a low strike setting with the clicker on. The pilchard will swim freely with the current drift.
When a mutton hits, the rod will go bananas. Allow the mutton snapper to inhale the bait fully with a 3- to 5-second count, then begin reeling frantically to take the bow and slack out of the line. Once the weight of the fish is felt, a sharp hook-set is warranted. Then the fight is on!
Technique for Fighting Large Mutton Snapper
Monster mutton snapper are heavy work to reel in. Early in the fight, use solid rod-pumping punches as the fish tries to get back down to the bottom to rub you off on the reef. Keep a tight line and pump and reel to continually point the fish upward.
Usually, about the time you see color, the mutton will begin to tire. Then an easy, steady reel is utilized to get the fish to the surface. Most times, the air bladder will have inflated by this point, floating the fish up. Reel to the egg sinker at the tip, place the rod in the gunnel, then grab the long leader and handline the mutton snapper the rest of the way in until you can slide a hand under the gill plate to hoist it on deck.
When you find the right patch reef, 10- to 15-pound mutton snapper can be commonplace. If you choose to release the beasts, proper venting or use of a descending device will help them return quickly and safely to the bottom. If you are keeping fish for the dinner table, a well-iced cooler will keep fillets fresh and flavorful. When you tangle with true red devils of the deep patch reefs, you’ll come home with bruised bellies and sore arms, but make no mistake, you will be eating well.
Watch the Mutant Muttons episode of Saltwater Underground with Nick Honachefsky, airing in January on Discovery Channel, Sundays at 6:30 a.m. and ESPN 2 and Waypoint TV Saturdays in February at 6:30 a.m.
