MISSISSIPPI KITCHEN DELIGHTS

BY SEAN VARONE

Lemon Caper Snapper On The Blackstone

Tocatch red snapper in the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coasts, here are some specific tips:

Timing and Season: Red snapper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is highly regulated and typically occurs during specific seasons. Stay updated on the current season dates and any restrictions set by both the state and federal regulations.

Locate Fishing Spots: Red snapper tend to congregate around natural or artificial reefs, wrecks, and other structures. Obtain fishing charts or maps that mark known fishing spots, or consider hiring a local guide like Captain James McCanless of Aquiline Custom Charters who knows the area so very well.

Equipment and Tackle: Use medium-heavy to heavy spinning or baitcasting rods and reels that can handle the strength of red snapper. Spool your reel with a strong braided or monofilament line with a test strength of 3050 pounds. Use a strong leader, such as fluorocarbon, to prevent break-offs from the snapper’s sharp teeth.

Bait Selection: Red snapper are voracious predators and can be enticed by a variety of baits. Use live or dead bait like squid, shrimp, cigar minnows, or small baitfish such as pinfish, pogies, or croakers. Some anglers have success with artificial baits like jigs or soft plastic lures that mimic baitfish.

Fishing Techniques: Consider using a knocker rig or a Carolina rig to present your bait effectively. These rigs allow your bait to drift naturally and reach the desired depth. You can also try vertical jigging or slow trolling techniques to entice the snapper. Experiment with different retrieval speeds and depths until you find what works best.

Patience and Persistence: Red snapper fishing can sometimes require patience, as they may not always be feeding actively. Stay alert for any signs of bites, including rod tip movement, line tension, or changes in weight. If you’re not getting bites in one location, be prepared to move around and try different spots until you find the fish.

Follow Regulations: Ensure you are aware of the current regulations for red snapper fishing, including size limits and bag limits. Stay informed about any changes in the rules and adhere to them to protect the fishery and ensure its sustainability.

Remember to always prioritize safety on the water, wear appropriate safety gear, and be aware of weather conditions. Fishing with an experienced local angler or charter boat can provide valuable guidance and increase your chances of success. Enjoy your red snapper fishing adventure on the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coasts!

Lemon caper sauce is a perfect way to dress up your summer snapper catch. The bright, acidic sauce compliments sweet, flaky snapper beautifully. You can serve this with any pasta or vegetables you have on hand. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 16oz Snapper filet, 1/2 inch thick

McCormick Garlic, Onion, Black Pepper, and Sea Salt all purpose seasoning blend

Jar of capers

1 stick unsalted butter

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

2 tsp zest from your juiced lemons

2 lemons, halved for charring on the Blackstone

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO

1. Season your Snapper filet with kosher salt and a generous coating of the McCormick seasoning.

2. Place filet on Blackstone or skillet heated to medium-high heat. Cook for 3-4 mins per side, until internal temperature registers 145 degrees.

3. During the last minute of cooking, place lemons halved side down and cook til charred.

4. Place fish and lemons on serving platter, tent with foil to keep fish warm while preparing sauce.

5. Melt butter in small skillet over low heat

6. Whisk lemon juice and half the jar of capers into melted butter. Whisk well to emulsify sauce properly.

7. Add zest and garlic to emulsified sauce and continue cooking and whisking for 30-45 seconds.

8. Add chopped parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper, remove from heat.

9. Pour sauce, except 2-4 tablespoons, over fish

*We put the reserved sauce back over low heat and used it to coat cellentani as a side dish.

Serve fish with any pasta or polenta you have in your pantry alongside summer veg from the Blackstone or skillet.

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he summer heat has set in and for most anglers that means chasing bass in deeper water. But luckily for those that like to fish shallow there are still options. Frog fishing up shallow can be very productive even in the hottest part of summer.The best place to look for shallow summer bass will be adjacent to deeper water. Areas where a creek channel swings closer to the bank will be some of the first places to look. These bass will be in the deepest, darkest shadows they can find to escape the summer heat.

The right equipment is important when frog fishing. I like a 7’2” medium heavy rod with a moderate fast tip. If you’re fishing heavy cover a heavy/fast would be a better option. It just needs to have a soft tip. You will never get a frog to walk with a broom stick. Pair it with a high speed reel spooled with 50-60 pound braid.

Now that we have the equipment taken care of let’s talk frogs. When it comes to colors keep it simple. You really only need three colors. Black or brown variations when the bass are feeding on bream and white when they are feeding on shad. It’s important to trim the legs before using them. I trim mine about 1-1/2” long and at an angle to help them walk better. A couple “pro-tips” for better hookups are to boil your frogs for a few minutes to soften the bodies or slightly bend the hook points up so they don’t snag on the frogs back.

When fishing frogs in the heat of summer it’s important to skip your frog as far back under over hanging bushes and trees as possible to get where those bass are hiding. Walk the bait back to you with short quick twitches of the rod in what’s called “walking the dog”. Sometimes they will want the bait walking with a fast motion and other times a more subtle walk with occasional pauses will get them to bite. Change it up and the bass will tell you what they want. This is sure to generate some vicious strikes.