The big Snook are back and they are as mean and hungry as ever. I find it really interesting how our fishing seasons work around here. It seems as the fishing gets better there are less people who get to partake in the action so it is all left to me and a few of my knowledgeable friends. My poor northern customers have to miss out on the huge Snook that we get to go after during the summer months. As the season slows down for number of trips I do, the fishing gets better and better. I still make it out on the water as often, actually even more because I just can't leave those monstrous fish alone. I guess I am a creature of habit because I find myself doing the same thing day after day for at least 16 days out of the month during the summer. It is a great feeling knowing each day I have a chance to boat a 20 to 50 pound Snook. Who knows one of these days you may actually see me hold up an unofficial state record. Well there were none that big this report but there was plenty to be proud of. Here goes.
The first trip started with my good friend Capt Butch. We both like to get out on the water when we don't have trips of our own to scout. We had a good feeling the Snook were back holding up at our favorite spot but we did not know for sure so we had to check it out on our own. We loaded the well with Threadfin at the 3rd span of the Causeway and off we went to the Mogan Mansion. The bite wasn't what I had hoped for but nevertheless the Fatty's were still willing to eat. Captain Butch tossed his Threadfin up into the ripping outgoing tide and the Threadfin was crushed on the Fin Nor size 16 reel. Captain Butch had a battle on his hands but he was able to keep the Snook from taking him into the pilings and this was his reward at fat 15 plus pound Snook..
The next day I went out on what I call a picnic with my wife Angela and daughter Lexis. I guess I am kind of addicted to this stuff because I just can't go out in the boat without full gear no matter who goes with me. We went straight to the Waterfront to grab a bite to eat. The food was delicious as always. With bellies full we headed to the 3rd span of the Causeway to get bait and loaded up in a couple of throws. I decided to anchor up and drop some baits on the bottom to see what wanted to play. Wouldn't you know it a nice little Cobia eats one of the bottom pinned Threads. I gave the rod to my wife and she nearly got pulled in. She wanted me to take the rod back but I told her no and just loosened the drag a little. Here is what she put in the boat a nice 11 pound Cobia.
Next I took out one of my original fishing partners. Don't let the age or size of this guy fool you, he can fish as you will soon see. We started the day going after Ladyfish. We were on them in no time and landed a good 20 plus. I can't tell you how nice it it to have enough well space to hold over 20 Ladyfish with no problem. Big Snook here we come! We started off fishing in 7 to 8 foot of water and Corey managed to get smacked around on the first fish. It was big but he was only fishing 30 pound Power Pro and really never had a chance to get it. The bite wasn't fast enough for my liking so I moved out to 20 feet of water and that tended to be the trick. The Snook were all over our Ladyfish. Corey was the first one to get Slam'd!! The night before I Woody Waxed the deck of my boat for protection and that stuff just wouldn't wash off and it made the deck extremely slippery. Corey was using my Man O' War 25 to 50 rod with Trinidad 30 Spooled with 200 pound test and lock down drag. He set the hook and slipped and slid all the way to the front of the boat. He then proceeded to get drug all the way to the back deck. I was laughing the whole time. He did good though and eventually managed to boat this nice hefty 17 pound Snook. Corey had no idea of the power the Man O' War rod held.
The next catch of the day belonged to me. I dropped my Ladyfish down and felt the thump of the Snook hit. I gave him a little line and set the hook. He put up a good fight especially in that ripping current. and when I landed her she went a nice even 15 pounds.
In the meantime we landed several 8 to 14 pound fish but none that we thought was worthy of a picture. Corey broke that trend when he tossed his Thread into the Snook Lair. The big Racing Mullet inhaled it and made several burst towards the structure. The Snook went airborne and fortunately for Corey it did because he was able to pull it back towards the boat while it was in the air which kept it from busting him off on the structure. Check out the size of this girl she was a real beauty. Take a guess of how big you think she was.
As if we hadn't had enough fun for the day. When I got home to wash the boat and gear down I tossed most of my bait over. Low and Behold the Tarpon began to roll. I put on a couple of Threads and tossed them out while I cleaned the boat. Sure enough one eats a bait. At first I thought it was a Red because it never jumped but when I finally got to see it I realized it was a nice 26 pound Tarpon. What a way to finish out a fine day.
My next trip was with Eric Farefield and his son Joey who just moved down here two weeks ago from Indiana. This was the second trip in two weeks with Eric and he really wanted his son to get in on the Snook action he saw the first day he went out with me. We went outside the first thing in the morning after loading up the well at the 3rd span the first thing in the morning. The first couple of casts at the Stick beach didn't produce much but the next ones did. Joey's bait was busted and his fish went on a long run. It made several nice jumps digs all the way to boat side. Joey said it was his biggest Snook ever.
We continued to fish the beach until we ran into a large school of Snook. We landed one after another. They were all smaller fish but very hungry and great action. They would eat every bait nearly as fast as it hit the water. We eventually decided to head for the Waterfront and grab a bite to eat. Eric and Joey really liked the food as I knew they would. Joey even had the Gator Tail. With our bellies full we went back and loaded up again at the Causeway with Threads. We went to my favorite Snook spot and I proceeded to watch Eric and Joey get pounded by several nice Snook. It really takes some getting used to. Those big Snook are so mean it is really hard to keep them out of structure even with heavy tackle unless you have the knack of it. Finally Joey was able to hookup and boy was it a hook up. We landed so many jacks that at first I thought that may have been what it was but soon I could tell it wasn't. He did a great job using the Fenwick HMGAV 10-20 pound class rod. He was able to turn the big Snook from the structure and keep it away from it with that rod. I thought it may break but it held up real well for a light tackle rod. Now he has caught his largest Snook for the second time in one day. I will leave it up to all of you to figure out how heavy it was. She sure was a beauty though.
Lastly, I was able to go out with my good friend Nelson and his boss Shelton. We began the day fishing for Lady's but struck out for the most part. We then decided to get some Threads at the 3rd span. We loaded up in a few throws of the net and decided to head to the big fat Racing Mullet. We landed a bunch of jacks and some smaller snook until I managed to hook up with this nice fat Snook right here. She engulfed the big Threadfin and attempted to get me in trouble but it wasn't going to happen with my 15-40 EXT. I pulled her right back from the structure and eventually to the Boga Grip. She went a nice 14.5 pounds.
In conclusion, the fishing is absolutely awesome right now. They are big and hungry. The bait has been plentiful as well as the big fish. If you want to tangle with some truly huge fish then now is the time to do it. Don't wait because who knows what the weather will be like in the future. Tight Lines to all!!
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