CAPTAIN INTERVIEW

CHASING SNAPPERS & RECORDS WITH CAPTAIN TOMMY PELLEGRIN

When it comes to fishing in Louisiana, hooking into a red snapper is a must. And when you’re out on the water with Captain Tommy Pellegrin, one of the Gulf Coast’s most accomplished fishing guides, it’s much more than just fishing for snapper – it's chasing world records.

Some of his most memorable moments have come from guiding ambitious anglers, including a woman who now holds the record for landing a snapper on a fly. She went on to share her story with a fellow angler, subsequently leading to five trips with Captain Tommy, four of which ended with new world records. This kind of consistency isn’t just luck—Tommy’s in-depth knowledge of snapper schools, waters, and feeding habits makes all the difference.

NOT JUST COMPETENT, BUT CONFIDENT

Captain Tommy has spent the past three decades mastering the art of red snapper fishing (among other native Louisiana species). After guiding many customers to glorious fishing achievements, it really doesn’t take much for word to spread.

In fact, not long ago, Captain Tommy received a call from an angler who had heard about these impressive catches. The man asked, “think you can beat 17 lbs?” Tommy chuckled replying, “Sure, what do you want to do with the rest of the day though?”

This is the confidence of a captain who knows exactly how to find and catch monster red snapper without a doubt.

A METHOD TO ALL THE SNAPPER MADNESS

Red snapper are aggressive feeders, and Captain Tommy compares catching them to catching catfish under a fish cleaning table – they'll eat just about anything and no matter what. “If you’re not catching them,” he says, “you’re in the wrong spot.” It’s as simple as that. The key is to locate the right school of fish, and once you get on top of them, it’s game on.

Snapper often tend to school together by size or class, meaning that if you’re hooking into 5-pounders, you’ll likely keep catching 5-pounders. To land bigger fish, you have to move around a bit. Captain Tommy’s approach is very methodical – his most crucial piece of advice: “You have to trust in your electronics and learn how to read them. It’s just that easy.” It is one thing to just pull up to a rig and tie on, “you’re gonna catch a bunch of fish” says Captain Tommy, “but they’re gonna be smaller. You want to catch larger fish, you want to look for them on your screen and drop right into them.”

Once you’ve located a school of bigger snapper – say 15-20 lbs – Captain Tommy’s method is straightforward but effective. He uses a basic California rig on a drift line with 4-ounce lead weights and ties the rig using a uni-to-uni knot connecting the mono leader to the braided line. Once the bait is down about 30 feet (or 8 seconds as he advises his customers), the snapper will start to strike hard. “It’s like candy in front of kids – they're gonna eat it,” Captain Tommy notes.

IF YOU CHUM, THEY WILL COME

One of Captain Tommy’s best days this season saw him and his crew land multiple dozens of speckled trout and 8 red snapper, ranging from 21-27 lbs, in just 45 feet of water. Using PENN Battle IV 4000 reels loaded with 30-pound line, they caught enough fish to fill the boat’s cooler to the brim. The thrill of catching monster snapper is hard to beat, and Tommy’s knowledge of when and where to target them ensures a successful outing.

Snapper fishing isn’t just about dropping a line a waiting. Tommy’s experience has taught him the importance of understanding snapper behavior. He knows that the biggest fish often come to the surface if you chum them properly. This allows you to select the exact fish you want to catch – dropping your bait right in front of the biggest one, without the others even noticing. It’s a technique that takes some time to master but with Captain Tommy’s guidance, you’ll be handpicking your next trophy in no time.

GEAR UP FOR THE MANGROVES

Where it really starts to get challenging is chasing the Mangrove snappers, in which scenarios Captain Tommy usually likes to bump up to a spinning reel 8000. “We break more lines fishing mangroves than anywhere else,” Captain Tommy explains. “Mangrove snappers are a mean fish that you hook into in front of a barnacle covered iron pipe that require you to stop and maneuver away from those obstacles quickly.”

Captain Tommy recounts multiple occasions in which he’d tell his customers once they hook into a mangrove snapper, “you put the rod over your shoulder and run to the back of the boat.” He’s seen guys get flipped over pulling this trick because of how fast you need to get them away from the rig and how strong the fight is. “I hate to say it like this but these ain’t Florida mangroves,” Tommy continues, “these are Louisianna mangroves.”

CAPTAIN'S CHOICE

Captain Tommy is a firm believer in using the right gear for the job. When targeting snapper, his go-to setup includes a 7-foot Ally™ II Spinning Boat Rod with medium power, PENN Fathom™ and Torque® Conventional reels at sizes from 30-50, and a Squall® II Level Wind Conventional reel in the same size range. He prefers using 50-lb braid backing with a 30–40-foot monofilament topshot, which gives anglers enough strength to handle the powerful runs of a big snapper.

For lighter tackle, Tommy uses the PENN® Battle® IV Spinning Rod & Reel Combo with a 4000 sized reel spooled with 30 lb. line, ideal for catching a range of inshore species, including smaller snapper and speckled trout.

So, if you’re ready for an adrenaline-fueled fishing adventure in the Gulf waters of Louisianna, there’s no better guide to take you there. You won’t just catch fish – you'll be chasing records. Book your trip now using the information below. ↓ ↓ ↓

FISH LIKE THE PROS

CAPTAIN TOMMY'S PREFERRED GEAR

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