Saltwater · Year-round in deep water; best in calm summer months

Silk Snapper

Lutjanus vivanus

A deep-water snapper with a big yellow eye and a pinkish-red, silken sheen, taken by deep-dropping along island slopes. Its nickname is 'yelloweye' — but that is only a nickname: this is a true snapper, NOT the Pacific yelloweye rockfish.

Seasons · Peak

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Silk Snapper — Photo: Williams, J. T.; Carpenter, K. E.; Van Tassell, J. L.; Hoetjes, P.; Toller, W.; Etnoyer, P.; Smith, M., CC BY 2.5 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Large eye with a bright yellow iris — the source of the 'yelloweye' nickname
Pinkish-red body with a smooth, silky sheen
'Yelloweye' here is only a nickname; it is a snapper, not the Pacific yelloweye rockfish
No dark lateral spot in adults (juveniles may show one below the soft dorsal fin)
Yellowish tail and fins, with fine wavy yellow lines along the sides

Habits

Lives deep, mostly 300-600 ft (90-180 m) along island slopes and ledges
Schools above deep rocky bottom, often alongside queen snapper
Feeds on fish, squid, shrimp and crabs, moving more at night
Slow-growing deep fish — check current snapper rules before keeping any
Bites best when deep-drop baits are held steady in light current

Distribution

Florida Keys, FL · Florida★ Primary

Venice, LA · Louisiana & Gulf ShoreCommon

Daytona Beach, FL · FloridaCommon

Where to find them

Deep slopes off the Florida Keys
Atlantic deep ledges off southeast Florida
Northern Gulf deep ledges off Louisiana

Where they live

Deep island slopes in 300-600 ft (90-180 m)Deep offshore ledges and rocky bottomShelf-edge drop-offs in the Keys and Gulf

How to catch them

Deep dropping with squid Boat

Rig: Multi-hook deep-drop rig with 3-5 lb of lead and lights, fished on the bottom in 300-600 ft (90-180 m) along island slopes

Bait/lure: Squid and cut fish

Key tip: Drift slowly or hold on the spot with a trolling motor — silk snapper schools sit tight to the slope.

Electric-reel rigs on deep ledges Boat

Rig: Electric reel, heavy braid and a multi-hook chicken-style deep rig worked along deep ledges, often on the same grounds as queen snapper

Bait/lure: Squid strips and cut bait

Key tip: Use lights and fresh bait; in deep water, scent and glow draw the first bites.

Best baits & lures

Whole squid or squid stripsCut fish (bonito or sardine)Squid-and-cut-bait combinations

Techniques for Silk Snapper →

Baseline setup

Rod: Heavy deep-drop rod, often with an electric reel
Line: 50-80 lb braid
Terminal: Multi-hook deep-drop rigs, 5/0-7/0 circle hooks, deep-drop lights, 3-5 lb sinkers