When it comes to offshore fishing, the turquoise waters of Alabama’s Beaches offer some of the best fishing and species that anglers on the Gulf Coast could ask for. While red snapper is the most sought-after fish in the area, this species isn’t the only snapper worth targeting. Consider targeting vermillion and gray snapper, cousins of the red snapper, during your next fishing trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Unlike red snapper, vermillion and gray snapper can be caught year-round, which makes them excellent targets no matter what time of year you visit. The two species are delicious and easy to prepare, and many anglers even prefer them to red snapper. Discover the best spots, tackle, and baits for catching vermillion and gray snapper in the Gulf.
Vermillion Snapper
Best Vermillion Snapper Fishing Spots
Best Vermillion Snapper Fishing Spots
Few saltwater fish species have as many names as the vermilion snapper, the smaller cousin of Alabama’s iconic American red snapper. The vermilion snapper is also known as mingos, beeliners, pinkies, and BBs.
Vermilion snapper hang out in the same areas as red snapper, such as artificial reefs, shipwrecks, bridge rubble, and natural structures. However, the beeliners tend to stay off the bottom and are suspended above the structure. They tend to congregate on the larger reefs and wrecks. Most successful vermilion anglers will drop their bait about 2/3rds of the way to the bottom. If you let the bait go all the way to the bottom, you’ll likely hook a small red snapper that may or may not reach the 16-inch minimum size.
Best Baits & Tackles for Vermillion Snapper
Best Baits & Tackles for Vermillion Snapper
When you’re fishing for beeliners, which is often the case when red snapper season is not open, you must downsize your tackle and start fishing with 2-0 circle hooks. The freshest, whitest squid makes the best beeliner bait, and it stays on the hook a lot better.
Vermillion Snapper Bag Limit
Vermillion Snapper Bag Limit
Of course, those who fish for beeliners know that, compared to red snapper, a 16-inch BB is a nice fish for the species. If you catch a 6-pound beeliner, everybody celebrates. The state record BB of seven pounds, three ounces was caught in 1987.
Another great thing about catching vermilions is that the daily bag limit is 10 fish per angler with a minimum size of 10 inches. Plus, I prefer eating beeliners, which are more streamlined than the red snapper, because of the texture of the fish. It’s a firm, light-colored flesh that can be prepared in any way you prefer – battered and deep-fried, sautéed, Greek-style, blackened, grilled with the skin on, or cut into slivers to cook on the flattop grill for fish tacos.
Gray Snapper
Best Gray Snapper Spots
Best Gray Snapper Spots
Another snapper species that anglers on Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast might encounter is the gray snapper, which is also known as black and mangrove snapper. Mangroves can be found inshore, nearshore, and offshore. The inshore gray snapper, which are considerably smaller, will hang around structure and take any available live bait. If they’re hungry, you might even catch one on a lead head with a plastic grub tail.
The bigger-sized fish will be on structure in depths of 20 to 120 feet and are known for their prowess, so make sure your tackle is in top shape for the fight.
Best Tackle for Gray Snapper
Best Tackle for Gray Snapper
Be aware, however, that this species has a keen eye and can be skittish if something doesn’t look right. Therefore, always use a fluorocarbon leader when fishing for mangroves and keep the line size and size of the hook as small as feasible, depending on where you’re fishing.
Gray Snapper Bag Limits
Gray Snapper Bag Limits
While mangroves don’t get nearly as large as the American red snapper, they can get much larger than vermilions, depending on where you’re fishing. The Alabama state record for gray snapper is 18 pounds and was set in 2007.
Mangroves also make great table fare and can be prepared like beeliners. With a 12-inch minimum size and a bag limit of 10 fish per angler, if you find the mangroves biting, you can easily put enough for dinner for a large family in the ice chest.
Snapper Fishing Trip
Book a Charter
Book a Charter
You can catch mangrove and vermillion snappers when on a local charter along Alabama’s Beaches. Tell your captain that you’d like to target these species, and they’ll lead you to the prime spots. Afterwards, the charter crew will clean and filet the fish for you, so you can easily take your haul to a Cook Your Catch restaurant and enjoy a fresh seafood dinner!
Don’t hesitate to book a trip to Alabama’s Beaches and fish for the “other” snapper species!
