“The next two fronts push them out to the 25- to 40-foot patches. “When the wind blows out of the north or northwest, and Florida Bay cools, all those fish move to shallow patch reefs in 10 to 15 feet,” Mason says. The next-best time of year to catch mutton snapper is October through December, when early cold fronts lower the water temperature. That can change at different locations.”Īlligator Light in Islamorada, American Shoal in the lower Keys, and the Dry Tortugas are among Mason’s top spots. If the full moon is after the 10th of June, it’s probably going to be in June. “If the full moon is in the first week of June, the best fishing is probably going to happen in July. The best fishing for muttons is during the spawn in June or July. Mason keeps the sinker from stirring up sand by raising and lowering the rod with the boat motion, with the reel in free-spool or with the bail open. “It’s crucial not to bang your sinker on the bottom because it freaks out the big muttons.” “We used to use 30-foot leaders now it’s 50-foot leaders because the sinker spooks fish,” Mason says. He does a lot of little things to catch more than his share of this prize species. Walter Mason of Islamorada is not a biologist, but after 45 years of fishing and diving in the Florida Keys, he probably knows more about mutton snapper habits than most scientists. Tommy Dimattina Mutton SnapperĪ favorite among bottomfishermen, mutton snapper are known for being both discerning and delicious.Ĭapt.
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