Hey guys, Captain Ryan Carter here with your weekly inshore fishing report from beautiful Key West, Florida.

This week I want to talk about mutton snapper. As we move into the winter months, our average winds hover around 15 mph, which tends to stir things up a bit and cloud that crystal-clear water we’re used to. That little bit of turbidity actually works in our favor — mutton snapper are visual feeders, and the slightly murky conditions make it harder for them to spot your hook and leader.

These fish are not only a blast to catch but also top-notch on the table — I personally love them taco-style.

Bait of choice: live pilchards are tough to beat, but pinfish and cut bait will also get the job done.

You’ll usually find muttons hanging around the reefs, but from now through May (their spawning season), we’re seeing quite a few on shallow-water wrecks and hard-bottom areas. Captain Justin even picked up a few this week while targeting yellow jacks out in the backcountry.

Tight lines, and we’ll see you out there on the water!

— Captain Ryan Carter