Mangrove Snapper Fishing in Tampa Bay

This trip specifically targets Mangrove Snappers, which is best known for its light and flaky meat, making it an anglers choice for a delicious meal! Whether you bake them, fry them or broil them, they are delicious!  The larger snappers can really put up a fight with their broom like tail and powerful bodies, making them a fun fish to catch. 

Experience one of Florida’s most exciting overnight fishing adventures aboard Hubbard’s Marina’s 12-Hour Night Snapper Trip. Departing every Friday evening at approximately 7:00 PM from Hubbard’s Marina in the heart of beautiful John’s Pass, Madeira Beach, this overnight excursion returns to the dock around 7:00 AM Saturday.

Our experienced captains travel 25 to 35 miles offshore, fishing productive reefs and ledges in 80 to 130 feet of water where large mangrove snapper are the primary target. Anglers also regularly reel in vermilion snapper, porgies, and yellowtail snapper, creating fast-paced action throughout the night.

During Gag Grouper season, anglers have the opportunity to hook a prized gag grouper while fishing these offshore structures. Although red grouper and hogfish (hog snapper) are less active after dark and are caught less frequently on night trips, every trip offers the chance to land an impressive variety of Gulf reef fish.

Whether you’re an experienced offshore angler or looking to experience the excitement of night fishing for the first time, Hubbard’s Marina’s 12-Hour Night Snapper Trip delivers an unforgettable adventure on the Gulf of America.

This trip DOES NOT go deep enough or far enough to catch red snapper or amberjacks, if you want to target American Red Snapper, we would suggest a 12 Hour Extreme or longer range trip. 

Mangrove Snapper are one of the most challenging and rewarding species you’ll catch in the Gulf. Known for their intelligence and lightning-fast bite, these fish often strike aggressively and spit the bait just as quickly, so you’ll need to react fast and set the hook immediately.

One of the best ways to improve your chances is by fishing with a Double Snell Hook Rig, which gives you a much better opportunity to hook these clever fish before they steal your bait. If you’ve never tied a Double Snell before, don’t worry! Our experienced mates are happy to show you how on the ride offshore, or you can get a head start by watching our instructional video by clicking here.

Once you hook your first mangrove snapper, you’ll understand why they’re one of our crew’s favorite fish to target!

Quick Details

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    Duration: 12 Hours Total | 6-8 Hours Fishing | 2-3 Hours Out & Back
  • Departure Times: 7:00 PM Fridays ONLY
  • Distance: 25 – 35  Miles Offshore
  • Depth: 80 – 130 feet
  • Capacity: 65 Passengers ~ Groups larger than 4 require 1 form of payment. NO SPLIT PAYMENTS
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    Catch : Mangrove snapper, Vermillion, Porgies, Yellowtail, Black Seabass

    *During gag season you do have a slight chance at some of them. Red grouper and hogfish do not bite well at night however so that would be a rarity.*

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    Rod Rentals: $19.95 per person and include Hook, Line and Sinkers. If lost a fee of $200 will incur. If bringing own gear please check below for recommended tackle

Cancellation Policy: 48 hours notice or more required.
No Call / No Shows – 100% of trip fare.
Cancellations within 48-hours – 50% of trip fare.

$184.95

Per Person
Ages 12+

You want to bring high gear ratio reel to help you set the hook on the fast mangrove snapper. For the rod, you want a medium strength rod with a sensitive tip to help feel the bite. Forty pound test is best for the snapper leaders with 3-5ot double snelled hooks.

If you don’t know how to double snell the mates can teach you on the way out.

Braid is okay on these trips but top shot is a must

Mangrove snapper – you want to use cut sardines for these guys and the mates will show you how to hook them

You might also want to bring a 60-80lb rod with a medium gear ratio reel for the grouper

  • 7-9ot hook with 80lb leader – bait: live pinfish, sardine, or squid strip

This trip does NOT go out far enough
for amberjack or red snapper

Good trip to use glow beads on your leaders… we sell them in the shop by the swivels

Small pinfish work great for monster mangrove snapper so live bait is a good idea for this trip, also mangrove snapper LOVE large shrimp so select shrimp is great idea too for this trip

Cigar minnows in bait freezer are great upgraded dead bait for the mangroves

Cut squid and threadfins are provided on board at no extra charge. Live shrimp and live pinfish do work well but it’s simply and extra option. You don’t NEED it, but it does work well some nights better than others. Live pinfish work well for the grouper and big mangroves. Live shrimp works VERY well for the mangroves and other snapper species. We will cover it more in depth in your pre-boarding seminar before the trip and you can purchase it prior to the departure of your trip after the seminar before boarding if you so choose.

Pinfish must be ordered 48 hours in advanced or more ($11 per dozen)

Live shrimp can be purchased the day of, or ahead of time either way ($10 for two doz in a bait bucket, $20 for five doz in a bait bucket)

Communal live well available on board.

We recommend 1 doz pinfish per angler if you so choose

We recommend 2-5 doz shrimp per angler if you so choose

Please note – children must be age 12 or over to take this trip.

FAQs– Things to Know Before You Go !

Check The Weather: Click Here

Run time
1 and a half to 2 and a half hour ride out and back 7-9 hours fishing time.

Distance: Cruising out 15 to 35 from shore.

Depth: The average depth is over 60-120 feet of water.

Catch: On this special trip we target primarily mangrove snapper, however, during gag season you do have a slight chance at some of them. We will also see plenty of vermillion, porgies, yellowtail, and possibly some seabass. Red grouper and hogfish do not bite well at night however so that would be a rarity.

Keep in mind mangrove snapper are the quickest biting super smart snapper that take lots of experience to dial in on. We would strongly recommend you check out the Fishing tips(https://www.hubbardsmarina.com/fishing-tips/) to see what Capt. Dylan Hubbard recommends for mangrove snapper. Also, be sure to watch the

How to tie a double snell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiaOiD1Bcvs) video because that rig will help you catch TONS more mangrove snapper.

We do not have a Reel Spooling Machine here at Hubbard’s Marina, but they do have one at Gator Jim’s Tackle Shop! Stop by today and let em know Hubbard’s Sent you!

$24.95 – includes 2 hot cooked to order sandwiches, 2 chips, 4 sodas, 2 candy or granola bar + unlimited free water & coffee + happy hr beer pricing

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