A strong leader is needed to avoid rocks or structure nicking or breaking your line. You'll likely get the most strikes on live bait. Try cigar minnows, small crabs, or large shrimp, on a very sharp circle hook. Chemically sharpened hooks are best. Cut baits can be productive, too. Try pilchard, sardines, or herring. Soaking the dead bait in pogy oil will make the baits more appealing to the snapper.

Use an egg sinker, about a 4 ounce or larger, depending on the current. The sinker should be placed where the line and leader join so that the bait can be drifted over structures. Once you get a strike, suppress your reflex to set the hook immediately. Red snapper, especially the larger ones, will sometimes "mouth" the bait for up to two full minutes, so setting the hook too quickly will jerk the hook right out of the snapper's bony mouth.

Keep the line tight, using light drag. Hooking a big snapper will definitely be a high point of any fishing trip. The fish will make a lot of runs, trying to get right back into structure for protection. After the first runs, your line will probably start knotting, as the snapper shakes his head, trying to free the hook. Even after the fish tires, don't think he's given up. He'll make another strong run as soon as he spots the boat. Once you get your fish within reach, net him head first. A long-handled net is best, especially when using long rods.