How To Choose Fishing Rod For Florida Snapper
Fishing for snapper has been a favorite sport of mine for decades now. I used to fish Key West and Islamorada back in the 70's, 80's and 90's.
These days it seems most people fish either from a bridge or from shore or from a kayak. Snapper fishing seems subtle by comparison with the old days of the big power boats. I'm not knocking it, I just miss seeing "the old days" on the water!
The other thing that has changed is the rods. When I started fishing for snapper there were no spinning rods allowed and only artificials. Now you can use natural baits like cut bait or shrimp. But it has become more difficult to miss fish when using artificials.
Most of the guides use medium action spinning rods with 15-25lb test line. I have seen some that will go up to 30lb test depending on the fish they are targeting.
Even though you can fish for snapper in rivers,I would recommend medium weight rods and 20-30lb test line.
Lets look at some of the reasons you may want to use a lighter or heavier rod:
If you were fishing in the tidal flow in the Everglades,using 5-15 ft of water then a lighter spinning rod like an Ugly Stick would be perfect. They generally come in a medium action and would be perfect to use if you were using smaller fish like Calico or Red Snapper. They can handle light jigs and smaller fish that require lighter line. The rod is designed with a U shape that helps fight the current and allows for more accurate casts.
You could also use the same rod if you were to use lighter line say 15lb test.
Now if the water was deeper,say 10-20ft you would need a heavier rod. With 20-30 lb line you would probably want something like an Abu Garcia Pro Max 6ft spinning rod in medium heavy action for salt water. The Abu Garcia has ceramic guides that would handle the heavy line with ease.
Another popular rod for fishing in Florida is a Penn Slammer 6ft medium action rod that has two graphite sections that allow you to break it down into 3 pieces. This makes it great for traveling on your boat or on your kayak.
I actually prefer the Penn rods but I do recommend buying a couple of different ones that are most popular. Then you will know what feels best in your hands and can most likely use it for whatever type of fishing you do.
I have used most all the major brands over the years, my personal choice is Abu Garcia, Penn or Lamiglas rod & reels combinations. You don't have to go too expensive but you will want a good quality rod and reel. You can pick up a combo for around $100 bucks or so at your local Bass Pro Shop or Dick's Sporting Goods.
The other thing I recommend is buying a few different sizes. Even though medium action rods are the most popular, there are times when you would want a little lighter or a little heavier action.
I hope this helps you in choosing the right rod for your snapper fishing in Florida, good luck and tight lines! See more: https://fishinghacking.com/how-to-choose-fishing-rod-for-florida-snapper-top-productreview/