Key West Catch of the Week- December 9th
Though the end of the year is fast approaching, fishing here in Key West is still in full swing. With the holiday season upon us, this week of fishing has proven to be exceedingly busy, as we've seen more than a few noteworthy catches on our fishing charters. Though it was difficult to choose the Catch of the Week, there was one haul in particular that stood above all of the others. A large amount of Mangrove Snapper were caught by anglers on one of our deep sea fishing charters, numbering 13 in total. Catching a couple of Snapper is impressive, but reeling in over a dozen is such a spectacular catch that we couldn't imagine any other but this one winning the Key West Catch of the Week.
Though the Mangrove Snapper is a species of fish that can be found anywhere from Massachusetts all the way down to the Caribbean Sea, an area in which this species of fish is most prevalent are the waters of Key West. Though Mangrove Snappers are commonly caught by those that are Key West deep sea fishing, they can be found in a large variety of different habitats and can therefore be caught on pretty much any of our charters. While Mangrove Snappers typically swim in schools, it's exceedingly rare to catch thirteen in one haul. Mangrove Snapper are commonly found swimming among reefs, which is the best location to sail out to when attempting to catch one. They are highly sought after as both a game fish and a food fish, the latter of which is due to the fact that the flaky flesh of the Snapper is quite tasty.
One of the primary reasons as to why Mangrove Snappers are still being caught within the waters of Key West is due to the relatively high water temperatures that remain, even as December begins. This species of fish is typically found in warmer waters, which is why the recent temperatures in the high 70's help greatly in facilitating a comfortable environment for these fish so they don't migrate to warmer waters. The Mangrove Snapper tends to feed on everything from small fish to crustaceans. This species of fish is often identified by anglers on our many Key West deep sea fishing charters by the greyish-red hues that adorn their bodies, as well as their extremely sharp teeth.
Mangrove Snappers can reach a length of up to 35 inches, though they average lengths between 5 and 10 inches. Many Mangrove Snappers that are caught here in Key West weigh only a few pounds, though it's possible for them to weigh over 40. Once hooked, Snappers don't provide too much of a challenge. That being said, they are more wary of anglers than most fish and can be difficult to hook in the first place. If you would like to see if you have what it takes to catch a Mangrove Snapper or two, feel free to visit us anytime at Key West!
Though the Mangrove Snapper is a species of fish that can be found anywhere from Massachusetts all the way down to the Caribbean Sea, an area in which this species of fish is most prevalent are the waters of Key West. Though Mangrove Snappers are commonly caught by those that are Key West deep sea fishing, they can be found in a large variety of different habitats and can therefore be caught on pretty much any of our charters. While Mangrove Snappers typically swim in schools, it's exceedingly rare to catch thirteen in one haul. Mangrove Snapper are commonly found swimming among reefs, which is the best location to sail out to when attempting to catch one. They are highly sought after as both a game fish and a food fish, the latter of which is due to the fact that the flaky flesh of the Snapper is quite tasty.
One of the primary reasons as to why Mangrove Snappers are still being caught within the waters of Key West is due to the relatively high water temperatures that remain, even as December begins. This species of fish is typically found in warmer waters, which is why the recent temperatures in the high 70's help greatly in facilitating a comfortable environment for these fish so they don't migrate to warmer waters. The Mangrove Snapper tends to feed on everything from small fish to crustaceans. This species of fish is often identified by anglers on our many Key West deep sea fishing charters by the greyish-red hues that adorn their bodies, as well as their extremely sharp teeth.
Mangrove Snappers can reach a length of up to 35 inches, though they average lengths between 5 and 10 inches. Many Mangrove Snappers that are caught here in Key West weigh only a few pounds, though it's possible for them to weigh over 40. Once hooked, Snappers don't provide too much of a challenge. That being said, they are more wary of anglers than most fish and can be difficult to hook in the first place. If you would like to see if you have what it takes to catch a Mangrove Snapper or two, feel free to visit us anytime at Key West!