Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Anyone have much luck using snapper blues for fluke on the party boats out of belmar?

Where is the best place to catch the snapper this time of year.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Live Snappers are one of the best baits for targeting large Fluke. They can be caught in the surf but for the most part tidal bays and rivers. Small Castmaters, Snapper Poppers and Sabiki rigs.

Problem is you need to keep them in a live well and not sure any party boats will have a live well going unelss you can make some prior arrangments.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

they wok very well butterflied too

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

jmurr is right! Snappers that r dead can be butterflied from the tail to the head on both sides removing the spine. I also sew the mouth shut to avoid the bait from spinning. The profile of the butterflied snapper is the same as a live one and they are deadly.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Also remember ur limit. Not even thinking my dad was fined for havin over the limit of snappers in his bucket

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

I love using snappers for bait, get to the boat an hour early. Use tiny lures like a Kastmaster bring an aerator. I also mix some tuna fish in water & chum for the snappers ... GOOD LUCK

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Can you catch the snappers right where the boats are docked?

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Sunday I caught one off the front of the boat at the dock. I saved it on ice until the bite slowed down. Put it on whole and dropped down. Within 5 seconds I had a bite and my first keeper of the day. I'm definitely bringing a sabiki rig for the rest of the season.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Yes and that is what some people will do.. Arrive early and fish for them on or around the boat.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

a sponser in Atlantic Highlands told my Father in law he could not fish for snappers from the bow at the dock a few years ago, he has not been back since

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Snappers, dead or alive, are the ticket when they are in season. Fluke can't resist them. Also, when the spots come in, usually in the surf, fluke candy. Don't be afraid to fish them whole, bigger the better!

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Sabiki rig tipped with cut spearing works every time....

Cut a few spearing up and chum the water....

An aerator is a MUST to keep them alive....

I like to use them on the first drop of the morning and at slack tide....

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

When you say butterflied.....how exactly do you mean?

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

cut it 4-way deboned and head on

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

I watched Steve aka ALS Mako butterfly one up on the RFA trip.

If you are familiar with filleting a fish it's very much like that, but you leave the fillets on each side of the snapper...

You need a very sharp fillet knife. Make a cut right above the tail where the meat starts and run your knife up the bones of the fish and stop just before the gills. Turn the fish on the other side and do the same...

Send a hook through the nose and your done... Those 2 attached fillets flutter real nice in the water giving some life to the dead snapper.

I've seen the same done with whole mackerel and bluefish for shark baits...

Learning something new all the time thanks to the people on this site.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

Is it me, or are the snappers not falling for the Kastmaster as in the past? They must be getting smarter. :D

In the past, they'd bite as soon as you reeled in by Atlantic Highlands. My last time out, it took me a half an hour to snag just 4.

Re: Snapper Blues for Fluke
 

I feel ya: I think it's just the size of them still, been having better luck with the smallest sabiki I can find: the # 8... And small cast master as weight of not too much current, if more I go to a really small diamond jig- like a 003 or 005 - been spotty at best lately though like the see what's going on and stay away, really wish I could find the small boxes of chum like they sell down south like Florida packed in what I call sandworm boxes to keep them around- mesh bag and drop it down... ^^^ Insert light bulb...