IIt’s no secret we love Queen Snapper fishing at the Main Attraction! Usually, we talk about how we catch them or how tasty they are, but there is so much more to learn about these beautiful fish. This article will be a celebration of all things Queen Snapper with an assortment of interesting facts about this very special fish. We will also sprinkle in some observations from our very own Captain Marty Lewis that, while not scientific, can provide firsthand knowledge acquired during his decades of experience fishing the Florida Keys seven days a week.

Physical Attributes

Let’s start with the basics as we do in all of our articles from the “All About Fish Facts” series. The Queen Snapper’s scientific name is Etelis oculatus. It is also known as Night snapper or Brim snapper, but here in Marathon, we usually refer to them as Queens or Queenies.  They are the brightest red of all the Snappers we catch on our charters here in the Florida Keys; they look like candy apples!

The Queen Snapper’s body boasts a vibrant red coloration that fades to a lighter shade on the belly. They have long, slender bodies with a forked tail and a long streamer from the dorsal fin. They have large eyes with bright red coloration around their black pupils. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so have a look below!

Habitat and Distribution

Queen Snappers can be found along the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina as far down as Brazil. Unlike many snapper species we catch in the Florida Keys, we do not encounter them on the reef or the sunken wrecks a few miles from land. Instead, we find Queen Snappers near underwater structure in much deeper water.

When asked, Captain Marty Lewis, who has caught thousands of Queen Snappers over the decades, said,” I have never caught a Queen Snapper in less than 450ft of water”. When targeting these fish, Captain Marty typically hunts for them in 600-900ft of water, but they can be found as deep as 1500 feet.

Captain Marty Lewis

Diet and Behavior

While juveniles can be found in the middle of the water column feeding on crustaceans, Queen Snapper is a bathydemersal species, meaning it is a bottom-dweller. As they age, they move to deeper waters and congregate around rocks and deep-sea corals while feeding primarily on squid and other fish. This is why Captain Marty targets them in deeper water. It is also why he gets better results when using baits such as Squid and Bonita.

Pro Tip: While you can use chunk bait to catch Queen Snappers, Marty is partial to using squid and strips of Bonita because the baits last longer underwater and stay on the hook well. A strip of the skin of a Bonita (false albacore) with some meat attached can hold up well in the current as he drifts to find the school. 

Unlike Grouper and other species of fish that find a cave or rocks to call home, Queen Snapper are usually on the move, which means Captain Marty has to look for them first. Once he catches one, he is sure to mark that spot so he can keep drifting baits by the school of fish.

Fishing Seasonality

Much like Queen Snappers year-round spawning activity, current regulations (at the time of publication) allow them to be harvested year-round here in Florida. That’s great news for Queen Snapper fans, as Captain Marty says, “They eat year-round if you can get to them!”

While there isn’t a Queen Snapper season, Captain Marty says the best time to catch Queen Snapper is in the summer and fall, mainly because the weather is calmer.  You need just the right current when dropping baits down to the bottom in  600-900 feet of water. Captain Marty prefers a half knot to one and a half knots worth of current. When asked why, he said, “Because if there is not enough current, you just won’t cover enough ground while you drift.”

Remember the Queen Snapper schools he is looking for could be anywhere because they move around, but Captain Marty knows where to start. He has marked his GPS with humps, ledges, deep-sea corals, and rock formations that he has found over the years.

When asked why he doesn’t like the current too fast, Captain Marty explained that the fish “can be a bit lazy,” meaning they won’t chase the bait down if it’s moving too fast!

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Advances in technology have recently shown us that these fish live much longer than initially thought. Recent research using carbon dating of the eyes has shown us they can live up to 45 years, with some exceptional cases documented of Queen Snappers that are even older than 60!

Queen Snappers have a unique take on spawning behavior. Instead of spawning in the spring like many fish down here do, they spawn year-round, with the peak activity towards the end of the year. This might be a strategic way to avoid competition for spring resources and help avoid predators focused on spring-spawning species.

Conservation Status and Regulation

The conservation status of Queen Snapper is currently “data deficient“, meaning scientists don’t know. This is likely because the depths at which these fish live make it hard to collect information about their populations. That being said, Queen Snappers are a valuable resource for commercial and recreational fishermen. For this reason, it is essential to follow sustainable fishing practices and follow federal and state regulations. 

Regulations are always subject to change; however, currently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allows up to 10 Queen Snapper per person within the ten snapper aggregate bag limit. But remember, this covers state waters only. It is much more likely you will be in federal waters by the time you find them here in the Florida Keys, so NOAA Fisheries is most likely the regulatory body you will have to comply with. Currently, they also enforce a 10-per-person aggregate bag limit, making it easy! Just remember other Snapper species you catch count toward this bag limit, so always check current regulations online before you head offshore!

More Interesting Facts

Over the years, Captain Marty Lewis has filleted thousands of Queen Snappers and has NEVER seen one with anything in it’s stomach! When asked why this is so, Captain Marty wasn’t exactly sure. He said it could be the stress of the fight, or an involuntary response, or an attempt to throw the hook. The sudden increase in pressure from being pulled up from the depths could also play a role. 

Another interesting fact about Queen Snapper is that  Scientists use their otoliths (ear bones) to help determine their age. When cut open, growth rings can be used to identify age. Their eyes also have a similar tell as layers grow around their eyes as they age. However, these growth rings can be challenging to identify on much older specimens. Combining these techniques with radiocarbon dating of the fish’s eyeballs has allowed us todiscover that Queen Snappers live much longer than previously known!

Queen Snappers can change color to blend in with their surroundings. Typically, they are much grayer at depths to blend in with their surroundings. Their bright red coloration is likely more to do with the increased lighting or changes in pressure as they are brought to the surface so quickly with electric reels.

Also, Queen Snappers have unusually large eyes because they have adapted to seeing in deep, dimly lit waters in which they live. Their evolved “night vision goggles” let them see the faintest movements or bioluminescence, giving them a significant advantage over their prey.

Conclusion

The Queen Snapper is a captivating deep-sea fish not just because of its striking appearance but because of the mystery the species is shrouded in due to the depths in which it lives!  While we are unsure of their actual conservation status, the SAMC (South Atlantic Fishery Management Council) is responsible for analyzing sample data and extrapolating on that with conservation plans that NOAA can enforce. We look to them for guidance and follow regulations, hoping this species will be available to many generations of Florida Keys anglers.

If you are heading to the Keys, interested in catching some snapper, or fishing with our very own Captain Marty Lewis, give us a ring at 305-289-0071 or visit our contact page.