Snapper -Vermillion

Averages less than a pound. May rarely reach 5 pounds or slightly larger. World record 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

Beeliner, Mingo, Cajon

Prefers the same depths as the Red Snapper, with which it often mixes. A common panfish around offshore deep wrecks, reefs and ledges of the upper Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Like the Red Snapper, it is more of a temperate than a tropical fish, and is unfamiliar to most anglers in the southern reaches of the state. Adults are found in moderately deep waters, most common over rock, gravel or sand bottoms near the edge of the continental and island shelves, often in large schools. Young fish occur in shallower depths (below 25 m), also often forming large schools. They feed on fishes, shrimps, crabs, polychaetes, other benthic invertebrates, cephalopods and planktonic organisms.

Rosy red above, fading to pinkish then whitish below. Red fins. Large eye. Similar to the Red Snapper in color but easily distinguished in addition to much smaller average size by the lack of prominent "snapper teeth", and by its rounded anal fin. Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Snout short, lower jaw slightly projecting. Mouth small. Pectoral fins relatively short, not reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Back and upper sides vermilion, shading to silvery with reddish tinge ventrally, with narrow horizontal yellow lines below the lateral line. The dorsal and caudal fins yellowish; the anal and pelvic fins whitish.

Spawning occurs over most of the year with peak activity during spring and summer, at least in the northern part of the range (Puerto Rico to the Carolinas).

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: Bermuda and North Carolina, USA, to São Paulo, Brazil, including West Indies, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

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Since the Vermillion is caught in greatest quantity by partyboat fishermen, the usual tackle consists of rods and reels stout enough to handle the hoped-for Snapper and Grouper. Even if the fisherman specifically targets Vermillions, he generally has to use the same tackle and heavy sinkers, switching only to smaller hooks. When conditions are favorable enough to permit getting down with weights of an ounce or so, spinning and baitcasting tackle are more productive and certainly more fun. Beeliners usually bite greedily at any sort of small dead bait, including cut fish, squid and shrimp.