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Are you interested in learning how to catch vermillion snapper? Vermillion snapper is not the sought-after snapper that anglers target. However, when anglers can’t find mangrove, red, or yellowtail snappers, vermillion snapper (beeliners) becomes a good alternative for fishing.
They can be found in the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to southeastern Brazil, including the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.
If you want to learn how to catch vermillion snapper, we will discuss the fishing methods, the baits and lures, fishing tackle, and tips to help you catch vermillion snapper.
Table of Contents
How To Catch Vermillion Snapper
Vermillion snapper is found over ledges, drop-offs, reefs, live bottom, rocks, sand bottom, and gravel. They are around those structures searching for baitfish. Although it is generally stated that vermillion snapper is a bottom fish, it isn’t really a bottom fish.
Bottom fishing is the fishing method anglers often use when fishing for beeliners. When using bottom fishing to catch beeliners, the key is to eventually get your bait midway in the water column where they are located. Use your fish finder or sonar device to locate the actual position of the vermillion snapper.
Then when you drop the bait, slowly release it until it reaches the beeliners where they are located in the water column. If the bait goes past them before they can strike it and it hits the bottom, slowly pull it up until it is located where they are.
Vermillion Snapper Fishing Tackle
A light tackle will work when fishing for beeliners. What is key is that the presentation must look natural to entice vermillion snapper to bite. Spinning tackle and a 10 lb test line can also be used when fishing for vermillion snapper.
Additionally, a half or three-quarter-ounce jig head tied to a 2 ft. long fluorocarbon leader attached to your line with a blood knot will get the job done. Vermillion snappers are attracted to chartreuse color, therefore use a chartreuse grub tail on the jig head and a small piece of bait.
Best Baits For Vermillion Snapper
- Squid
Squid is a good bait when fishing for vermillion snapper. It is a good bait when learning how to catch vermillion snapper.
2. Shrimp
Shrimp is also effective as bait for catching vermillion snapper. It also works well for beginners who are learning how to catch vermillion snapper.
3. Crabs
Crabs work well as nait when fishing for beeliners.
4. Small fish
Small fish is often prey for vermillion snapper and anglers use them effectively as bait for vermillion snapper.
Best Lures For Vermillion Snapper
- Jigs
Jigs are effective lures used by anglers when fishing for vermillion snappers.
How To Catch Vermilion Snapper In The Gulf of Mexico
Fishing for vermillion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico involves bottom fishing. However, most of the time, the bait will not have to hit the bottom as vermillion snapper will not be located at the bottom. Vermillion snapper will often be found midway in the water column where they will be feeding on baitfish.
Locate their position with a fish finder and slowly drop your line to get to their position. Most of the time you will not need a heavy sinker as it will take the bait past the beeliners and go straight to the bottom.
Vermillion Snapper Fishing Tips
- Vermillion snapper can be found all year-round offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
2. Vermillion snappers often swim in large schools but don’t go very far.
3. You can find vermillion snapper over rocks, ledges, drop-offs, reefs, sand bottoms, and gravel.
4. They can be found in waters 60 to 400 feet deep, but are often found in waters less than 180 feet deep.
5. Although they are considered a bottom feeder, vermillion snapper is not really a bottom feeder.
6. Vermillion snappers are usually found midway in the water column where they feed. Many anglers have difficulty catching them because they are usually midway and not at the bottom.
7. Don’t use heavy sinkers that will take your bait past the beeliners and down to the bottom.
8. The key to successfully catching beeliners is locating where they are in the water column
and dropping your bait at that water level for them to bite.
9. When using the bottom fishing method to catch vermillion snapper, you must be a line watcher as it slowly sinks. The line will stop moving when a fish hits. Then reel up and set the hook.
10. Vermillion snappers are always on the move. Therefore, you must be patient when searching for them.
11. Chumming can also be used to bring vermillion snapper further up in the water column.
The Bottom Line
Vermillion snappers are usually found over ledges, drop-offs, reefs, live bottoms, rocks, sand bottoms, and gravel. They inhabit the waters in the Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to southeastern Brazil, including the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.
Vermillion snappers can be caught using bottom fishing although they are usually found midway in the water column. In this article, we discussed how to catch vermillion snapper, the often used fishing method to catch it, and tips to help you successfully catch them.
You can also read how to catch mutton snapper, how to catch mangrove snapper, how to catch lane snapper, how to catch red snapper, how to catch cubera snapper, and how to catch yellowtail snapper.
