Queen Snapper Fishing Charters
Etelis oculatus
Queen Snapper is a stunningly beautiful deep-water fish with a crimson-red body and large, luminous eyes. Caught on specialized deep-drop party boat trips in South Florida and the Keys, this is one of the most visually striking and delicious fish in the ocean.
- Party boats
- 2
- States
- 2
Boats That Fish for Queen Snapper
- All states · 2
- Florida · 1
- Texas · 1
About Queen Snapper
Party boats target Queen Snapper by deep-dropping in depths of 400 to 1,200 feet over rocky ledges and drop-offs. Heavy tackle, electric reels, and specialized deep-drop rigs with cut squid or fish are necessary to reach these extreme depths. Finding the right depth and structure is critical.
The fight from extreme depth is a physical challenge. While Queen Snapper are not the most powerful fighters, reeling a fish up from 800 feet takes sustained effort. Fish commonly run 2 to 8 pounds, with larger specimens reaching 15 pounds.
Quick Facts
- Size range
- 2 to 15 lbs
- Habitat
- Deep Offshore/Drop-offs
- Fight
- Moderate
- Edibility
- Excellent
