We FOUND New Red Snapper Spots! Offshore Scouting Before 2026 Season

Before the 2026 American Red Snapper season even opens, we’re already offshore putting in the work! In this offshore fishing adventure, Steve and I leave the dock before sunrise and head deep into the Gulf of America searching for new red snapper structure and hidden honey holes. We start scouting in the northern snapper zone around 120 feet and continue working farther offshore all the way into 170 feet of water looking for productive bottom structure holding big red snapper and grouper. Along the way we share some GPS areas, mark promising new spots, catch quality fish, and break down what we look for on the fish finder when searching for offshore structure, from Sarasota, Venice to Tampa Bay. This Gulf of Mexico trip had everything — big red snapper, grouper action, live bait fishing, offshore scouting, heartbreaks, and new spots that could produce during the 2026 Gulf red snapper season. If you enjoy offshore fishing in the Gulf of America / Gulf of Mexico targeting red snapper, red grouper, mangrove snapper, and reef species, make sure to subscribe and come along for future offshore adventures. 🎣 Species Targeted: • American Red Snapper • Red Grouper • Reef Fish 📍 Fishing Depths: • 120–170 Feet Offshore ⚓ In This Video: • Offshore scouting before sunrise • Searching for new bottom structure • Reading sonar for snapper spots • Red snapper action • Grouper catches • GPS area breakdowns • Offshore fishing tactics 🔥 Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more offshore fishing adventures from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Gear, bait, and partner links are in the description. https://www.onthedockservice.com Strike Footwear 👇 https://alnk.to/7ftA8e6 #OffshoreFishing #RedSnapper #GulfFishing #Fishing #RedGrouper #SnapperFishing #GulfOfAmerica #GulfOfMexico #FishingAdventure #OffshoreAdventure Recording Equipment: GoPro 7 GoPro 12 GoPro 13 iPhone 16 pro Video edited on CapCut Pro by Me! (John Phillips) Social Media and Contact Info Please email [email protected] for business inquiries. Instagram: johnphillipsfishing https://www.threads.net/ @johnphillipsfishing TikTok @john.phillips.fishing Facebook: John Phillips 00:00 Intro – Scouting for 2026 Red Snapper Spots 00:48 Leaving Before Sunrise 01:03 The Offshore Game Plan 02:03 First GPS Area & Structure Breakdown 02:50 What a “Christmas Tree” Looks Like on Sonar 04:20 First Snapper Action 06:30 Red Snapper Bite Heats Up 09:00 Fishing Regulations & Size Talk 11:10 Big Fish Before It Hits Bottom 13:00 Live Bait Setup Offshore 1 15:00 Heavy Fish & Big Structure 17:20 New Bottom Area Found 19:45 More Snapper Action 22:00 Finding Better Offshore Structure 24:20 162 Foot Honey Hole 26:25 Snapper Stacked Under the Boat 28:55 Big Bite Lost 31:20 Offshore Frustrations & Missed Fish 33:20 Keeper Fish & More Action 35:30 Big Offshore Hookups 38:45 Reviewing the Footage & Fish Marks 41:20 Southwest Spot Breakdown 45:30 Another Strong Bite 53:05 Wrapping Up the Day Offshore 56:20 Final Thoughts & Outro