I have been snapper fishing 30 years. I've commercial fished, been a deckhand on charters, and recreational fished. I a lot of "private spots". On these private spots, I used to be able to catch a limit of red snapper with ease. Not just a limit, but usually around a 17lb average. Frozen pogeys, store bought snapper rigs... it was easy. We throw back anything under about 12 lbs. but the last 2 years it's been tough. I mean we can scratch a limit out, but it's mostly barely keeper size fish. We don't go every weekend. Really about 4 times a year usually.

I think it's declining because everyone's sonar systems are improving. And the ability to ping boats from afar. People can drive close to your spot, see it, mark it, and never come off plane. There are no private spots anymore. Everyone's spots are getting fished hard every weekend. Especially the ones 20 miles and in. I guess we are just going to have to run offshore 40 miles to catch quality fish like we used to.

Are you guys seeing the same thing at your private spots?

I saw this coming back in 2016 when I gave it up. I spent thousands putting coops out 25 to 30 miles and could do whay your talking about anytime. About 2 yrs ago a buddy called and asked me for a few numbers and I gave him 6 of the best I had. He said there were boats all over but 1 one of them and it didn't have a keeper on it. Way too many boats out there now and what everybody thought couldn't happen is happening.

We just go 30 miles offshore to catch them now.

Peach I think that's what I'm gonna start doing.

We dive the 25 miles and stuff in. We have a group of us.
We normally have no issue getting our fish 18 plus lbs. this year been a struggle bus. I can tell you how many times in twenty years we have shot fish under 10 lbs to make a limit but this year we’ve done it multiple just to scratch a limit.

Any idea why it's so tough this year?

Youtube, Facebook, etc, etc. Lots of folks after them jokers nowadays.

Crappie I've fished for snapper for 32 years. There has always been a lot of folks after them. Now there is more habitat and stricter creel limits. This has been a change in the last couple of years.

I will also say that we caught beeliner and trigger in places I have never caught them before. And I mean a ton of them. We could have limited out on beeliner at a big public spot. That population seems to be thriving.

I agree with the habitat but there's way more boats out there now than ever. If divers are having a hard time then it's not just that they're not biting.

Last two years have been awful fishing. All the fish are small. I think sonar, spot lock, and popularity all play a factor into it.

This!

Too many folks catching them.

Fishing out of Orange Beach is tough. Dauphin island is a little easier to catch quality fish, but it’s getting tough and quick..

Guys... we have been on a quota for how many years now? The number of fishing being caught really hasn't changed. We caught more fish (as a whole) when there wasn't a quota. The increase in boats the last 5 years doesn't mean we've caught more fish per se. More pressure? Definitely. I think it is more that there are no safe havens (private spots) within 25 miles anymore. Sonar and spot lock I think are the two biggest factors. Next time I go I'm running 40 miles and see if it makes a difference. I'll let yall know.

I've seen the same thing the past 2 years. Think it is worse this year. No problem getting limits but no big fish. In 6 trips offshore, I think we have caught maybe 2 over 10lbs. Live bait, dead bait doesnt matter.

2020 strikes again. I think everyone's a Catfisherman now too 🤪

How far out are yall going?

Sharks blaming it on sharks and porpoises. We need to reduce the predator #s dramatically

Maybe there are too many fish from all of the over the top regulations. They either can’t compete to get big, or more likely, you can’t get time for a big one to take your bait because there are so many little ones attacking it. Just trying to think outside the box.

My guess is same as the ones mentioned. When the weekend warrior couldn’t hold over a spot to fish but with the push of a button he can.
Smack boats wrecking the inshore stuff. I really don’t know. We are not seeing the numbers of fish from what we dive. Mostly public and some semi private. We get em. But it takes all day.
I can’t wait till pressure is off and we can dive that shallow stuff off ft Morgan. Just need everyone else to get in deer hunting mode.