2 Ways to Up Your Yellowtail Game

written by Evan Anderson

“When you come to the Keys there is no way you cannot go yellowtail snapper fishing,” says Captain Steve Rodger as he readies his boat in the Oceans Edge Resort Marina, “It is one of the most sought after fish here.” Rodger and Captain Scott Walker are about to head out just beyond the marina to chase some yellowtail brought in by a cold front. Amidst the rocky seas and 20 mph winds, the two experts find that some pleasant surprises come with chasing yellowtail in the Keys. Here are two tips to up your yellowtail fishing game, as well as a bonus tip on cooking Mangrove Snapper.

“When you come to the Keys there is no way you cannot go yellowtail snapper fishing.”

— Steve Rodger from Into the Blue

1. Keep An Eye On Your Chum Line

“Here’s what I know,” says Walker, “If we’re going after yellowtail, we don’t have to go far.” As Rodger fires up his Mercury Marine motor and heads out to sea, it’s not long after they leave the Oceans Edge Resort Marina before they start dropping chum into the water. “There’s somebody out there every day feeding them,” remarks Walker. With the high accessibility of yellowtail snapper in the Florida Keys, they are a huge part of the commercial fishing industry there. And with all that activity, that means that the fish are accustomed to boats as a source of food.

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When dropping chum, Rodger recommends first assessing whether you have much of a current around your boat. “When you got a little bit of current, Scott, it’ll push everything back and those fish will line up and stay in one spot,” comments Rodger, “Whereas right now it’s rough and we don’t really have much current at all…the fish are just straight down.” Observing this factor while you are dropping your chum into the water will allow you to plan where you are going to drop your lines. Watch the chum and see if it moves in a specific direction, or if it just drops straight down, and you’ll know where your currents are and how to plan your casts.

“When you’ve got a little bit of current...it’ll push everything back and those fish will line up and stay in one spot.”

— Steve Rodger from Into the Blue

2. Hooks and Bait

As with any fish, you want to make sure you use the right tackle. If your setup is too big, it will be obvious to the fish your going after. And if it’s too small then you will lose your catch. “Our favorite all around outfit,” says Walker, “is the twin power 8000 with 30 lb braid, about 10 feet of fluorocarbon [leader], and a number 1 hook about the size of your little finger nail.” According to Walker, a hook this size will catch fish up to 50 pounds. He then continues, saying that “you want to match the chunks coming out of your chum bag with the size of your baits.” Yellowtail will not go after large baits, even if they themselves are of a large size. Instead you want to favor smaller baits that match the size of the chum you are using.

BONUS: Mangrove Recipe

Using these two techniques, captains Walker and Rodger not only catch a fine haul of yellowtail snappers, but find that the school of yellowtail has attracted an even better prize: Mangrove Snappers. “My favorite is the mangrove snapper,” says Rodger back on the dock, “it’s got a little more chicken flavor to it, y’know what I mean?” “Yeah it’s a little heartier,” agrees Walker.

Eventually, the two experts catch more mangroves than they do yellowtail that day. Back on the dock as they clean their fish, Rodger describes his favorite way to cook mangroves. Start by leaving the scales on the filet. This prevents the flesh from getting burnt on the grill while also adding an extra level of flavor from the fat and oil between the flesh and the scales. Once your grill is hot, lay the filet on top with the scales down. Then mix together melted butter, Italian dressing, and some salt and pepper. Walker suggests adding a little teriyaki into the mix as well if you like. Then, while the fish is cooking, apply that mixture with a brush. You’ll know the fish is done cooking when you stick a fork into the fish and find that the flesh has a flakiness to it. From there, “it’s right to the plate, man,” finishes Rodger.

Is your mouth watering for some snapper? Check out the full episode below and see our two captains in action on S11:E8 of Into the Blue.

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