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Snappers are fish of the snapper family. The largest genus of this family, in addition to snappers and snappers, these fish are also called pargo, and the most popular name of the species, taking into account the lifestyle, is reef or coral perches. In most species, the body is strongly laterally compressed and quite high. The dorsal fin is usually divided into two parts, the front one is prickly. The head is massive with a large mouth in which teeth are well developed, sometimes especially large ones on the vomer. The size of fish can vary greatly, from a few centimeters to over 1 m in length and weighing 45 kg or more. Snappers, most often, are brightly colored, thereby further increasing the interest in themselves among travelers and anglers. Most snappers are ambush predators, preferring to wait for prey in thickets of aquatic vegetation, rocky and coral reefs, several species live off the coast, in thickets of mangrove forests. Fish are bottom dwellers and can live at various depths. Some species exist at a depth of 400 meters, but most live in the bottom relief zone, at about 100 meters. Some types of snappers, when eaten, can cause poisoning.
Fishing methods
As with other types of snappers, the most interesting snapper fishing is spinning tackle. It is absolutely certain that when fishing in mangroves or in other places with moderate depths, an equally interesting way of fishing is fly fishing. With regard to spinning, taking into account habitats, fishing can be done both “cast” and “plumb” on the appropriate baits. Like most marine predators, snappers are voracious and illegible in the choice of prey, so they can be caught with natural baits. To do this, you can use any suitable gear: from an ordinary piece of fishing line with a hook and a sinker to a special equipment for drifting.
Catching snappers on spinning “cast”
When choosing tackle for fishing with a classic spinning rod for catching snapper snappers, it is advisable to proceed from the principle: “trophy size – bait size”. In addition, the priority should be the approach – “onboard” or “shore fishing”. Marine vessels are more convenient for spinning fishing, but there may be limitations here. For coastal specialized fishing of medium-sized snappers, “serious” marine gear is not required: when choosing gear, it is better to deviate from the size of the lures. Although it is worth noting that even medium-sized fish desperately resist, and this gives a lot of pleasure to anglers. Snappers often keep in various conditions of the coastal zone, and therefore, with spinning rods from marine boats, it is possible to fish for classic lures: spinners, wobblers, and so on. Reels should be with a good supply of fishing line or cord. In addition to a trouble-free braking system, the coil must be protected from salt water. In many types of sea fishing equipment, very fast wiring is required, which means a high gear ratio of the winding mechanism. According to the principle of operation, the coils can be both multiplier and inertial-free. Accordingly, the rods are selected depending on the reel system. The choice of rods is very diverse, at the moment manufacturers offer a large number of specialized “blanks” for various fishing conditions and types of lures. When fishing with spinning marine fish, fishing technique is very important. To select the correct wiring, it is necessary to consult experienced anglers or guides.
Catching snappers “in a plumb line”
In difficult conditions of deep-sea reefs, the most successful fishing for snappers can be considered vertical baiting or jigging. In this case, you can use various nozzles, including natural ones. When fishing in this way at great depths, in the event of a catch, the fight will occur with a large load on the gear, so fishing rods and reels, first of all, must be powerful enough. Cords with special markings to determine the length used are very convenient. In the case of vertical bait fishing, it is very important to do the right wiring in order to attract the fish. As in the case of casting fishing, you should definitely clarify the fishing technique with experienced anglers.
Baits
When fishing in shallow water, snapper lures include a variety of spinning and fly fishing lures used for fishing in various coastal fishing conditions and imitating various small inhabitants of reefs, mangroves and underwater marine thickets. In the case of fishing at great depths, it is possible to use jigs and other equipment for vertical lure. When using rigs for fishing with natural baits, you will need a small live bait or cuttings from fish meat, cephalopods or crustaceans.
Places of fishing and habitat
Most species of snapper snappers live in the Indo-Pacific region of the tropical and subtropical zone. However, they are very widely distributed along the coasts of all archipelagos, islands and the mainland, with the exception of some areas of tropical seas, such as the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. As already mentioned, fish prefer to live and hunt, hiding in various shelters: rocky and coral reefs, algae, mangroves and more. Most of the species are quite massive and have commercial importance. However, along the Caribbean and West African coasts, the species composition of snappers is much smaller compared to the Pacific.
Spawning
Spawning in this large family may differ both regionally and species-wise. On average, maturation of fish occurs at the age of 2-3 years. During the spawning period they form large aggregations. Spawning is portioned, can be stretched for several months. As a rule, it is associated with the temperature regime of water, in peak values of high temperatures. Pelargic caviar. Fertility depends on the species, but in general it is quite large.