An 11-in-long (28-cm-long), 3-lb (1.4-kg) clamshell-type snapper attached to the bottom of a sounding lead by means of a hole drilled in the lead. The jaws are cast bronze and are actuated by a spring. The jaws are held open by engaging two trigger pins within the jaws. The mud snapper and sounding lead may be operated in shallow water by hand lowering or by lowering from a bathythermograph or oceanographic winch.