Since today is the opening day of snook season, I thought I'd let you know how things are in my favorite area, the Gulf coast of Everglades National Park out of Flamingo. To prepare for this week's anglers I made a special trip yesterday to do bit of exploring and make sure some of my favorite spots were on since I've been doing a bit of night fishing locally and haven't made the run down to Flamingo in a few days. At least that's my excuse for a day on the water...
The day before season opener... No one else around at all, the parking lot completely empty, very quiet - even the mosquitoes were sleeping. I made the long run across the interior and was just leaving Whitewater Bay as the sun finally showed. The target for the day was just snook, and in every situation I could find them. A quick stop in Oyster Bay produced a few baits and then out to the coast near the Shark River. My first spot was strictly a big fish, live bait proposition. That first fish was a bit over slot at 34 to 35" and very fat... Here's a photo (the routine was a momentary photo with the fish laying on a wet towel or wet deck, then back in the water without any weighing or unnecessary handling..)
A big girl with my biggest spinning rod for comparison...
The next three bites were sharks in the seven to nine foot range (in one case two at a time and only one angler...) so it was off to another spot. But not before taking another snook, this time on topwater and just a little under slot... at 26"
From now on any snook action would be strictly on lures, looking for slot sized fish. Still lots of sharks everywhere, I had several come after a topwater plug and chase it back to the boat while larger specimens kept cruising up and checking out my skiff. There are many places where the shark population feeds on fish that anglers have hooked... When they show up it's time to move.
A quick run down the coast to the south found lots of small and medium tarpon, but no snook at the top of the tide so back to the north... and another great snook spot. At first nothing was doing on topwater so it was time to change gears and use something a bit slower and long proven. I have been making my own gear for a lot of years now, including lures when possible. My first good bite came on the lightest rod on board, with 10lb line and a small Gulp lure. The fish just cleaned my clock. I avoided the run past my motor, then the one under the boat, but the rocket back into the shoreline ended the fight. Since it was a spot that I've fished for a few years I decided that it was worth another shot, this time with a bit heavier gear, 12lb line, and a very stout rod. Worked like a charm and it was off to the races with number two...This time things went differently and a fat 31" fish got his photo taken...
Here's a photo of one of those jigs, this one weighs 3/8oz and has a small clear plastic worm as a sweetener...
Along the way a little of everything else showed up, but the snook were biting on both incoming and outgoing tides... In the morning when it was relatively cool and in the afternoon with water temps up around 88 degrees. By the end of the day there had been snook in rivers, creeks, and along shallow shorelines both north and south of the Shark River area. Of course now that the season's open lots of boats and anglers. The day before, was just fine...
Tight Lines
Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666