Targeting Inshore Mangrove Snapper

Fishing for mangrove snapper—also known as grovers or mangos—inshore can make for some of the most exciting action you’ll find on the water. While these inshore fish may be a bit smaller than their offshore counterparts, don’t let that fool you; river snapper can be incredibly abundant, and it’s not uncommon to hook into fish 18 inches or bigger. On top of that, you never know what kind of bycatch you might encounter while targeting these feisty little predators.

The Importance of Structure and Bait

The key ingredients to a successful inshore mangrove snapper trip are simple: structure and lots of bait.

Best Baits for Mangrove Snapper

Mangrove snapper are opportunistic feeders. They’ll eat a wide range of live and cut baits, but some choices consistently outproduce the rest:

• Live shrimp
• Small baitfish (greenies, small mullet, mud minnows, majora, pinfish)
• Cut bait
• Majora and greenies are especially productive—if you can fill your livewell with these, you’re in business.

Tip: Bring plenty of bait—not just to fish with, but to chum the water and keep the fish fired up and feeding. Chumming helps hold the snapper in your area and triggers more aggressive feeding.

Where to Target Inshore Mangrove Snapper

Finding the right spot is just as important as having the right bait. Inshore mangrove snapper love areas with good structure and moving water.

• Bridge fenders (especially those near inlets or along the Intracoastal Waterway)
• Jetties
• Deep-water docks
• Rock piles or other submerged structure

Focus on deeper bridge fenders for bigger schools of snapper. Sometimes, these areas will be loaded with fish if you take the time to locate them and chum effectively.

Technique and Presentation

Mangrove snapper can be aggressive but are also known to get “spooky” if pressured too hard or if you make sloppy presentations. Here are some tips to maximize your catch:

• Start with chumming: Once you locate snapper, chum the area to get them feeding and comfortable. Watch for them rising in the water column to grab chum.
• Go light on leader: Use light fluorocarbon (10–30 lbs) depending on the average size of fish in the area. Lighter leader helps get more bites, especially if the fish are shy or in clear water.
• Smart presentations: Don’t throw too many rigs at once. Keep presentations natural, and if fish get wary, pause fishing and chum again to keep them active.
• Avoid spooking the school: If snapper become wary, stop fishing for a bit and keep chumming until you see them relax and return to feeding.

Seasonality: When to Target Inshore Snapper

You can catch mangrove snapper inshore year-round, but this technique shines during the spawning season, when larger snapper move in from offshore reefs and beaches. The peak months are:

• May through September
• Full moons in June and July often bring in the biggest fish and the most consistent bite

If you want a shot at those bigger 18"+ snappers, plan your trips around the summer full moons and focus on the best bridge or jetty structure in your area.

Quick Tips Recap

• Bring plenty of bait—for fishing and for chumming
• Focus on structure—bridges, docks, jetties, deep pilings
• Use light fluorocarbon leader for shy fish
• Chum to keep snapper in your area and aggressive
• Fish peak months (May–September, especially around full moons)

With the right bait, presentation, and location, inshore mangrove snapper fishing can offer non-stop action and the chance at some truly quality fish. Get out there, find your structure, and put these tips into practice for your next mangrove snapper mission!