The Snook Nook FISHING REPORT
Always Bring Your Camera!
Current Fishing Reports

JUNE 2004

 

JUNE 7,04 FISHING THE TREASURE COAST

YES, FINALLY IT IS SUMMER, NO WIND, FLAT RIVER, FLAT OCEAN AND AFTERNOON SHOWERS. EASY TO PLAN YOUR DAY, THE BEST PART IS THERE IS PLENTY OF FISH.

THE SURF IS IN THE SUMMER MODE WITH SNOOK (SEASON CLOSED), TARPON, BIG JACKS, WHITING AND YES STILL BLUES, MAC’S AND POMPANO. WHY THE BLUES AND WINTER FISH ARE STILL HERE IN NUMBERS YOU CAN COUNT SURPRISES ME, BUT IT IS A GOOD THING. SMALL BLUES, BIG MAC’S AND QUALITY POMPANO AND THE NUMBERS ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO TARGET. BUT I LOVE THE SUMMER FISH, SNOOK ON THE EDGE, THE DOA BAIT BUSTER, YOZURI CRYSTAL MINNOWS, SMALL BOMBERS ARE ALL EFFECTIVE. THE SEASON IS CLOSED SO TAKE ALL THE BARBS OFF, WALK IN THE WATER AND RELEASE THE FISH. PLEASE DO NOT DRAG THEM IN THE SAND. A SEVEN FOOT ROD AND TWO HUNDRED YARDS OF TWELVE POUND TEST WITH A THIRTY POUND LEADER IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED, IT IS SUMMER. THE ABOVE WILL CATCH THEM ALL INCLUDING THE MAC’S, JACKS AND BLUES. IF YOUR HART IS SET ON THE TARPON AND THE TWENTY FIVE-POUND JACKS YOU NEED TO BUMP IT UP, THIRTY-POUND TACKLE IS A MUST. START YOUR DAY BEFORE SUN UP AND FINISH TWO HOURS AFTER SUN UP FOR THE BEST ACTION. LATE RISER AND YOU ARE WANTING THE ABOVE CATCH THE HIGH TIDE THEY ALL COME BACK AT THAT TIME. LOTS OF WHITING AND CROAKER TO FILL THE DAY AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ONE OF THE ABOVE WILL CRUISE IN, NEVER CAUGHT A FISH WITH A WATCH ON.

QUALITY TROUT AND RED FISH THAT ARE REALLY RED HAVE TOP THE RIVER LIST. YES, PLENTY OF SNOOK. SOME HOW THEY KNOW WHEN THE SEASON IS CLOSED, MAYBE I SHOULD LOOK FOR A CALENDAR AND NOT A WATCH. IT IS SUMMER AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU FISH BE IN THE WATER BEFORE SUN UP. BRIGHT SUN, CLEAR WATER AND YOU CAN SEE THE FISH, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN SEE YOU. GET OUT OF THE BOAT A WADE IT IS A SURE FIRE WAY TO BUMP UP YOUR CATCH LIST. FROM J.C. PARK SOUTH ON THE EAST BANK OF THE INDIAN RIVER. ON THE WEST SIDE START JUST NORTH OF MIDWAY ROAD AND COME SOUTH TO COUNTY LINE LOTS OF FISH. MOST OF THE RED FISH COME OFF THE WEST SIDE BUT IF YOU SEE ME JUST GO TO THE EAST IT IS A GUARANTEE THEY WILL BE THERE. HARD TO BEAT A GOLD SPOON FOR THE REDS. THE TROUT HAVE BEEN EASY TO FEED, YOU PICK YOUR FAVORED AND YOU WILL GET THEM. PLENTY OF JACKS AND TARPON IN THE LITTLE MUD CREEK ZONE, MOST OF THE TARPON IN THIS AREA ARE FORTY POUND FISH. BIG TARPON ARE SOUTH OF THE STUART CAUSEWAY, CAN’T GET A BITE BUT YOU WILL SEE PLENTY OF THEM. TRIPLETAIL ON THE CHANNEL MARKERS AND BIG GOLIATH GROUPER AT THE BRIDGES, LIKE HUNDRED POUND FISH, YOU CAN SEE THEM. FOR YOU ANGLERS THAT WERE BIT OFF IN THE HELLS GATE AREA OF THE ST. LUCIE RIVER IT WAS BLUE FISH, DON’T ASK I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THERE. I THINK THEY RETIRED AND MOVED TO THE AREA!!!! TARPON AND SNOOK IN THE CLUB MED AREA OF THE NORTH FORK BUT THE REDS SOUTH OF THE PALM CITY BRIDGE HAS ANGLERS TALKING. AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN S.F.W.M. TURNS OFF THAT DIRTY WATER. THE SALINITY IS UP AND THE FISH ARE MOVING BACK IN, IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

OFFSHORE IT IS THE KINGS AND COBIA THAT TOP THE LIST. THE FLATS BOATS ARE RUNNING THE BEACH CHASING THE TARPON, PERMIT AND JACKS CATCHING KINGS AND COBIA? WHY NOT THAT IS WHERE THE BAIT IS. LOTS OF NICE FISH IN FIFTEEN T O FORTY FEET, ACTION, GREAT ON THE GRILL AND IF IT DOES RAIN YOU ARE CLOSE THE INLET. BOTTOM FISHING IS EXCELLENT, LIMITS OF SNAPPER, GROUPER IN THE TWENTY POUND CLASS AND COBIA SWIMMING UP TO THE BOAT, SWEET. I KNOW WHERE ARE THE DOLPHIN (80’) WHO CARES THE ACTION IS IN CLOSE WITH GOOD NUMBERS. O K THE DOLPHIN HAVE BEEN SPREAD OUT WHICH MEANS THEY COULD BE ANYWHERE. NO PATTERN ANGLERS ARE OUT TROLLING AND "BINGO" DOLPHIN OTHERS ARE STILL OUT THERE LOOKING. IF THAT IS YOUR TARGET PUT OUT THE BALLYHOO AND TAKE DINNER TO THE FISH, THE CATCHES REPORTED HAVE BEEN IN THE EIGHTY TO ONE HUNDRED FOOT ZONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THE BONITA ARE THICK SO BRING SOME EXTRA BAIT THEY ARE A HUNGRY GROUP.

TILL NEXT WEEK, DO NOT FORGET THE CAMERA…….HENRY

 

JUNE 19, 04 FISHING

NINTY DEGREES AND I LOVE IT. SUMMER IN SOUTH FLORIDA, IT JUST MAKES YOU LAZY. SO FISH EARLY, WHEN YOU AND THE FISH ARE UP MOVING AROUND. WARM, BRIGHT SUN, FLAT WATER MEANS LOW LIGHT IS THE ONLY TIME TO COME OUT.

OFFSHORE THE BAIT IS UP CLOSE, SHALLOW, HOW ABOUT FIFTEEN FEEET OF DEPTH. NOW IF YOU WERE A FISH LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST WHERE WOULD YOU BE????? THIS WEEK THE COBIA, TARPON, SMOKER KINGS, SAILS, FOUR DOLPHINS AND TWO MARLIN WERE CAUGHT IN LESS THAN FIFTY FEET OF DEPTH. WHERE ARE THE BAIT SCHOOLS???? YOU GOT IT. IT IS SUMMER FISH EARLY FOR THE MOST CONFORTABLE TEMPS. YES THERE ARE FISH IN THE DEEPER WATER BUT IF YOU WANT NUMBERS AND A VARITY FISH UP CLOSE. THE REASON TO GO DEEPER IS THE GROUPER AND SNAPPER BITE HAS BEEN IN SIXTY FEET AND IT IS GAG, GRAYS, MUTTONS AND RED SNAPPER IN GOOD NUMBERS IF YOU CAN GET YOUR BAIT THROUGH THE AMBER JACKS. TRY PUTTING YOU EGG SINKER ON YOUR SIX-FOOT LEADER; LET THE LEAD SLIDE TO THE HOOK. NOW YOUR BAIT WILL FALL FAST, WHEN IT GETS TO THE BOTTOM THEN FEED THE LINE OFF TILL IT STOPS AND HOPE A BARACUDA DOES NOT SHARE YOUR CATCH ON THE WAY UP. YOU MIGHT TRY A PICTURE OF "SQUEEKY’’ ON YOUR MAIN LINE THAT WILL SCARE OFF MOST FISH. SMALL BOATS ARE RUNNING THE SURF CATCH ING TARPON; SNOOK, PERMIT AND YOU COULD MIX UP THE KINGS AND A SAIL ALSO. YOU BE IN THE WATER FOR SUN RISE, UNLESS IT THE REEFS YOU ARE GOING TO. SARDINES FOR THE SNAPPER, LIVE PINFISH FOR THE GROUPER.

WALKING THE BEACH BEFORE SUN UP IS THE TIME FOR THE SNOOK, TARPN, BIG JACKS AND A FEW PERMIT. THE WHITING BITE IS STRONG MOST OF THE DAY ON SHRIMP PIECES, BRING ICE. BACK TO THE GAME FISH, IF IT HAS FLASH THROW IT. YOU CAN SEE THE BAIT ON THE EDGE, ANGLERS ARE USING BAIT RIGS TO CATCH THEM. IT IS A LOT EASIER FOR THE GAME FISH TO CATCH BREAKFAST IN TWO FEET THAN IN TWENTY FEET, SO CAST NORTH AND SOUTH NOT EAST. ALRIGHT YOU CAN CAST EAST BUT TWO FEET IS THE ACTION ZONE IS TWO FEET AND IT IS UP TO YOU TO GET THE PRESENTATION TIME, TRY A THE LIGHT LURE YOU CAN CAST, TAKE THE BARBS OFF, KEEP THE ROD TIP UP AND HAVE THE CAMERA READY, YOU ARE GOING TO RELEASE THESE FISH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

RIVER IS THE SAME, FISH EARLY. TROUT AND REDS ACROSS THE FLATS ON SHRIMP AND SOFT RUBBER BAITS. THE TARPON ARE IN BOTH RIVERS AROUND THE BRIDGES IN THE ALL THE DEEPER AREAS AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO EAT IT WILL BE EARLY. SNOOK KNOW THE SEASON IS CLOSED SO THE PESTS ARE EVERYWHERE. BIG JACKS AND FEW BONEFISH ACROSS THE SAILFISH FLATS AND YES THE REDS ARE ON THE BACKSIDE OF BOYSCOUT ISLAND. NOW IF YOU CAN NOT FISH EARLY LOOK TO THE SHADED AND DEEP WATER. MANGROVE SHORE LINE, DOCKS, UNDER BRIDGES AND WHERE THERE IS SHADE. THE FISH ARE SMARTER THEN WE ARE THEY STAY IN THE SHADE. HAVE DEEP CHANNEL CLOSE BY, THAT IS THE PLACE. THE FISH WILL BE DEEP AND NOT HUNGRY BUT STILL TERRRITORIAL. YOU HAVE TO IRRITATE THEM TO THE POINT THEY WILL STRIKE JUST TO GET YOU OUT OF THEIR SPACE, A QUICK HOOK SET IS MANDATORY.

TILL NEXT WEEK I THINK I WILL GO LAZE THE REST OF THIS DAY, DID YOU BRING THE CAMERA……….MARLIN IN THIRTY FEET……………………

 

JUNE 27, 04 FISHING

IT JUST GETS BETTER, THIRTY-NINE POUND, FIFTY THREE INCH KING MAC FROM THE FT. PIERCE JETTY, SURF SIDE. THE LIVE BAIT IS TIGHT ON THE BEACH AND SO ARE THE KINGS, COBIA, SAILS, ALONG WITH THE BIG SNOOK, TARPON, PERMIT AND I KNOW I LEFT A FEW OUT. THE OCEAN IS FLAT, THE RIVER IS THE SAME AND THE WATER IS CRYSTAL BLUE. I LOVE SOUTH FLORIDA.

RIVER ANGLERS IT IS BRIGHT SUN AND SO CLEAR YOU CAN SEE IT ALL AND THAT MEANS THEY CAN SEE YOU. FISH EARLY, LOW LIGHT IS THE BEST SHOT AT THE MOST FISH? TROUT, REDS, SNOOK WILL ALL BE IN THE VERY SHALLOW LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST. TOP WATER PLUGS FIND THE BIGGEST FISH NOT THE MOST HITS BUT THE BIGGEST. SOFT RUBBER BAITS FIND THE NUMBERS OF ALL SIZES. IF IT RED FISH ANY THING THAT WORKS BELOW THE SURFACE, BAIT THEY CAN GET ON TOP OF WILL GET YOU FISH. SO WE CAN’T ALL FISH EARLY, FISH THE SHADED WATER FISH THE DEEPER WATER, THREE FOOT AND DEEPER. THE FISH ARE GETTING AWAY FOR THE SUN. LOOK UNDER DOCKS, TREE LINES, BRIDGES OR CHANNELS. YOU NEED BAIT THAT WORKS SLOW LIKE A DOA SHRIMP, COTEE, RIPTIDE, SOME THING YOU CAN MOVE VERY SLOW. THESE FISH BECOME TERRITORIAL AND WILL STRIKE TO GET YOU OUT OF THEIR SPACE, A FAST HOOK SET IS ON ORDER. THE TARPON ARE IN MOST AREAS, EARLY IS THE BITE BUT THEN THESE ARE TARPON AND WHO KNOWS FOR SURE WHEN THEY WILL EAT. SPEND SOME TIME ON THE SCHOOL AND GO DOWN IN SIZE OF BAITS IF YOUR FIRST CHOICE IS LESS THAN FAVORABLE. FEW PERMIT AND SMALL BONEFISH ACROSS THE SAILFISH FLATS BUT THE BIG SNOOK HAVE ALSO MOVED IN THAT AREA. TAKE THE BARBS OFF THE HOOKS FOR A QUICK RELEASE. LOTS OF DRUM AND SHEEP HEAD, SAND PEARCH AND BIG CROAKERS FROM THE AREA BRIDGES.

SURF AGAIN YOU NEED TO BE THERE BEFORE SUN UP. PERMITIN THE FIFTEEN / TWENTY POUND CLASS, BIG TARPON, SNOOK, AND JACKS THAT YOU CAN WATER SKI BEHIND TO START. IF IT FLASHS CAST IT, FISH AT FORTY-FIVE DEGREE ANGLES TO THE EDGE AND YOU WILL BE IN THE FISH. LOTS OF WHITING FOR THE TABLE AND FOR YOU LATE ANGLERS CATCH THE HIGH TIDE OR WAIT TILL EVENING. THE JETTYS HAVE BEEN THE HOME OF THE BIG SNOOK AND SNAPPER BUT THE KINGFISH BITE FROM THE FT. PIERCE JETTY HAS BEEN OUT OF CONTROL. FISH THE LATE HOURS, USE LIVE BAIT AND JUST PITCH THE BAIT, IF YOU CAST YOU HAVE THROWN PAST THEM. THESE KING ARE HOLDING THE BAIT ON THE ROCKS AND THAT IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. SINGLE HOOK EVERYTHING, MONO LEADERS, THE WATER IS CRYTAL CLEAR.

IN THE BLUE WATER, IF YOU WOULD CALL FORTY FEET OFF SHORE? FISHING OR CATCHING? LOTS OF FISH, KINGS, SAILS, COBIA, WAHOO, BONITA EVEN A TUNA SHOWED ON THE CATCH LIST. THE BAIT IS THICK ON THE EDGE, SO MUCH YOU CAN CAST TO A KINGFISH, WATCH SAILS JUMP AND GET TIRED FIGHTING OFF THE BONITA. NORTH OR SOUTH IT IS NUMBERS AND YES THERE IS A DOLPHIN OR TWO. DOLPHIN, IT IS HIT OR MISS, FIVE BOATS GO OUT AND ONE CATCHS THE DOLPHIN, THE DEPTHS ARE AS MIXED. THE WATER IS BEAUTIFUL, TEMPS ARE PERFECT, WE HAVE THE BAIT NOW IF THE SOME ONE WILL TELL THE DOLPHIN THEY MAY APPEAR ON THE CATCH LIST. BOTTOM ANGLERS, GENUINE RED SNAPPER THIRTY-NINE INCHES AND WEIGHTED IN AT THIRTY POUNDS. THE REDS AND MUTTONS TOP THE LIST ON REEFS IN THE THIRTY TO SIXTY FEET OF DEPTH. GAGS AND GRAYS, AMBER JACKS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR ARMS LONGER, IT HAS BEEN A GOOD WEEK FOR THE REEF ANGLERS. LOTS OF BAITFISH AND A LIGHTER CURRENT JUST MADE FOR A LONG CATCH LIST. KEEP THE CAMERA HANDY THERE IS A FEW YOU DON’T WANT IN THE BOAT.

TILL NEXT WEEK ENJOY THE WEATHER, THE WATER AND TRY TO PICK UP SOME LITTER EVEN IF IT IS NOT YOURS, THANK YOU……………..HENRY

Previous Fishing Reports will be found here in the ARCHIVES...

MAY 2004    APRIL 2004  MARCH 2004  FEBRUARY 2004  NO JANUARY 2004   DECEMBER 2003   NOVEMBER 2003   OCTOBER 2003   SEPTEMBER 2003   AUGUST 2003  MAY-JULY 2003   NO APRIL 2003 REPORTS   MARCH 2003   FEBRUARY 2003   JANUARY 2003   OCT 2002    NO SEPT 2002 REPORTS    AUG 2002    JULY 2002   JUNE 2002    MAY 2002  NO APRIL 2002 REPORTS   MAR2002   FEB 2002   JAN 2002   DEC 2001   NOV 2001   OCT 2001    SEPT 2001   AUG 2001   JULY 2001   JUNE 2001   MAY 2001   APRIL 2001    MARCH 2001   FEBRUARY 2001   JANUARY 2001   DECEMBER 2000   NOVEMBER 2000    OCTOBER 2000   SEPTEMBER 2000   AUGUST 2000   JULY 2000   JUNE 2000   MAY 2000   APRIL 2000   MARCH 2000   FEBRUARY 2000   JANUARY 2000   DECEMBER 1999   NOVEMBER 1999   OCTOBER 1999   SEPTEMBER 1999   AUGUST 1999