The Snook Nook FISHING REPORT
Always Bring Your Camera!
Current Fishing Reports
AUG 7.04 FISHING
OFF-SHORE IT IS WAHOO TIME, EARLY BITE, FISH IN THE THIRTY POUND CLASS, LIVE, DEAD OR PLASTIC THESE FISH ARE HUNGRY. TO TARGET THESE WAHOO YOU NEED TO GET A BAIT IN THEIR ZONE ANDTHAT IS BELOW THE SURFACE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO DEEP. FOUR LINES IN THE WATER, FOUR DIFFERENT DEPTHS. THESE FISH LIKE FAST MOVING BAIT; THE TRICK IS TO KNOW WICH BAIT WORKS AT WHAT SPEED. THAT YOSURI BONITA OR ONE OF THE KNOCK OFFS IS GREAT BAIT. TAKE YOUR FAVORED TROLLING FEATHERS, A SPLIT TAIL MULLET, SKIRTED HORSE BALLYHOO WILL ALL WORK. PUT THEM ON A PLANER, TROLLING WEIGHT, REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO GET TO THEIR ZONE. THE WAHOO STARTED IN EIGHTY FEET AND WENT OUT FROM THERE, FROM BOCA TO FT. PIERCE ALL REPORTED WAHOO BITES. LOTS OF BAIT UP CLOSEAND THAT IS WHERE THE KINGS START, COBIA HANG OUT AND SAILS KEEP JUMPING. DOLPHIN HAVENOT CHANGED STILL SCATTERED. BOTTOM FISH HAS BEEN HOT AND COLD DEPENDING ON WATER TEMPRATURE.
SURF HAS BEEN TIED TO THE WATER TEMPS, ONE HOUR COLD THE NEXT WARM AND THE FISH FOLLOW THE PATTERN. THIS FLORIDA AND THE FISH LIKE WARM WATER. THE CRAZY PART IS ONE AREA IS COLD AND THE NEXT WARM? LAST WEEK WEEDS THIS WEEK TEMPS, THE FISH ARE THERE JUST LOOK AROUND CHANGE LOCATIONS, THEY DO. SNOOK, JACKS AND WHITING TOP THE LIST. THE TARPON ARE ON THE BAITS SCHOOLS JUST OUT OF CASTING RANGE BUT IN AN HOUR THEY COULD BE AT YOUR TOES. THOSE COLD AREAS ARE HAVING THE SAME INFLUENCE ON THE SHORELINE. FISH EARLY FOR THE BIG JACKS AND THE TARPON, STRONG TIME FOR THE SNOOK BUT WE HAVE HAD REPORTS OF SNOOK THROUGH OUT THE DAY. GOOD WHITING SOME CROAKER SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TABLE FARE COME ON DOWN AND DO NOT FORGET THE ICE.
RIVER IT IS TROUT AND REDS IN THE BEAR POINT AREA, FLOUNDER ON THE CHANNEL EDGES, TRIPLETAILS ON THE MARKERS AND SNAPPER EVERYWHERE. GOOD CATCH LIST THIS WEEK FOR ALL THE RAIN WE HAVE HAD. NO IT DOES NOT BOTHER THE FISH THEY ARE ALL READY WET BUT FOR THE ANGLERS IT’S JUST NOT CONFORTABLE. FISH EARLY WITH YOUR FAVORED TOP WATER, THEN MOVE TO THREE FEET AND USE YOUR FAVORITE SOFT RUBBER BAITS. SHRIMP FOR THE TRIPLETAIL AND SNAPPER AND I AM NOT SURE FOR THE SKIPPING POMPANO IN THE SAILFISH FLATS. HAD GOOD REPORTS OF BONEFISH IN THAT AREA ALSO. SNOOK ARE EVERYWHERE AND THE SEASON IS CLOSED, PLEASE IF YOU ARE GOING TO TARGET THEM SPEND THE TIMEIT TAKES TO REVIVE THAT FISH OR LEAVE THEM ALONE. BRIDGES IT IS CROAKER, DRUM, SHEEPHEAD, SNAPPER, SNOOK THE LIST IS LONG. SHRIMP TOP THE LIST IN THIS AREA.
TILL NEXT WEEK TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND RELEASE THE REST FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP OUT, BRING THE CAMERA……………..
AUG 14,04 FISHING
AFTER LAST WEEKS WEATHER WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. HURRICANE CHARLIE KEPT THE BAROMETER FALLING, GRAY SKIES AND THE CONSTANT RAIN BANDS IT WAS JUST NOT AN OUTDOORS WEEK. NEW WEEK, STABLE BAROMETER AND THE SUN IS SHING LETS GO FISHING.
SURFS EDGE IS BAIT, MULLET, THREADFIN HERRING AND A FEW THAT I AM NOT SURE OF BUT DINNER FOR ALL THE BIG FISH. THE EARLY HOUR IS THE HOUR WITH THE MOST SPECIES OF ALL SIZES BUT FISH ON THE EDGE ALL DAY. FOR THE TABLE IT IS WHITING AND CROAKERS ALL DAY. FOR GAME IT IS BIG JACKS, SNOOK, TARPON AND A FEW YOU WILL NOT SEE BUT ALWAYS TESTING YOUR EQUIPMENT AND SKILL. A SEVEN FOOT ROD, TWELVE POUND LINE AND YOU ARE READY. YES, THE OCCASIONAL BLUE FISH AND POMPANO ARE STILL THERE.
ALL THE MIX UP FROM THE STORM WILL BRING A LOT OF FLOTSAM FOR THE OFFSHORE ANGLERS. JUST LOTS OF STUFF FOR THE FISH TO HOLD ON. HAVE TWO SPINNING RODS RIGGED AND READY, ONE FOR A COBIA WITH ABUCK TAIL ON IT AND ONE FOR THE TRIPLE TAIL WITH A SMALLER JIG. BOTH CAN BE FOUND MILLING AROUND ANYTHING FLOATING. THIS MAY PUSH THAT HARD TO FIND DOLPHIN INTO YOUR PATH, SAILFISH ARE HAPPY WITH ALL THE BAITS IT WILL BRING. NOW IS THE TIME TO TARGET THE WAHOO, GET YOUR DEEP RUNNING BAITS IN THE WATER AT THE 100’ MARK AND GO UT FROM THERE. THESE FISH AS WITH A KING MAC CAN ONLY SEE UP NOT DOWN SO THEY RUN DEEP ALWAYS LOOKING UP, TAKE DINNER TO THEM. WAHOO IN THE THIRTY POUND CLASS, KINGS IN THE TWENTY POUND CLASS ON SPLIT TAILS, BIG BALLY HOO AND DEEP RUNNING LURES. BOTTOM ANGLERS THE WARM WATER IS BACK AND SO ARE THE SNAPPERS NOT BIG BUT GOOD NUMBERS; A SMALLER HOOK IS A GOOD IDEA. USE GOOD SIZE BAIT SOMETHING THE LITTLE ONES CANNOT RUN WITH, THE BIGGER WILL COME TO SEE WHAT THE LITTLE FISH ARE ON TO.
RIVER HAS NOT CHANGED, LOTS OF BAIT. IT IS AS IF OUR MULLET RUN IS ABOUT TO START. IF IT WERE THE THIRD WEEK IN SEPTEMBER I WOULD CALL IT, MAYBE THEY JUST MIGHT START EARLY. TROUT BITE IS EARLY WITH REDS AND TARPON FROM SEVERAL LOCATIONS BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THEM LAST WEEK. AFTER THE SUN IS UP FOR A FEW HOURS MOVE THOTHE CHANNEL MARKERS, DRIFT TO THEM AND WATCH. THIS IS THE SEASON WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE TRIPLETAIL JUST SOAKING UP A FEW AFTERNOON RAYS. LOTS OF GOOD SIZE SNAPPER WILL BE THERE ALSO; JIG WITH A SHRIMP ON IT WILL GET BOTH. SNAPPER YOU CAN TAKE BUT IF YOU HAVE NEVER CLEANED A TRIPLETAIL, TAKE ONE AND TRY IT. SNOOK ARE EVERY WHERE AND YES THE SEASON IS STILL CLOSED…………BRING THE CAMERA.
AUG. 21,2004 FISHING
A BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA SUNDAY MORNING, RIVER IS FLAT AND THE OCEAN IS LIKE A LAKE, NOT SURE IF IT COULD GET ANY BETTER. JUST ONE OF THOSE GREAT MORNINGS TO BRING YOUR CHAIR, COFFEE AND PAPER TO THE WATERS EDGE AND TAKE IT ALL IN. NOW IF YOU WANT TO FISH IT WOULD BE A GREAT DAY TO DO THAT ALSO.
SURF ANGLERS THE BAIT IS EVERYWHERE AND THE FISH ARE THERE WITH IT. TARPON, SNOOK, BIG JACKS, BLUES EVEN A FEW POMPANO MADE THE SNOOK NOOK LOG THIS WEEK. THE PRIME HAOURS HAVE BEEN THE LOW LIGHT, DAWN OR EVENING; I LIKE THE DAWN HOUR. CAST AT FORTY-FIVE DEGREES TO SURF EDGE, THE FISH ARE SHALLOW. A LURE WITH A LOT OF FLASH WILL FIND THE FISH OR LIVE BAITS WORK GREAT. AFTER SUN UP PLENTY OF WHITING AND CROAKER, BRING THE ICE.
TROUT FANS IT HAS BEEN WALTON ROAD, BEAR POINT, LITTLE MUD CREEK VERY PRODUCTIVE AREAS, DAWN IS THE BITE TIME. SHRIMP, TOP WATER LURES ANDALL THOSE FINGER MULLET THAT ARE SWIMMING PAST YOU WILL FIND SOME BIG TROUT. SNOOK ARE EVERY WHERE AND HUNGRY BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE SEASON IS OPEN. SEPTEMBER FIRST FOR THE SNOOK AND THEY KNOW IT. TARPON ARE TESTING ANGLERS IN BOTH THE INDIAN AND ST. LUCIE RIVER. THE DARK HOUR SEAMS TO BE THEIR FEEDING TIME. AREA BRIDGES HAVE BEEN HOT WITH BIG TARPON ACTION. YES, THOSE ARE SOME BIG SPANISH MAC’S IN HERMANS BAY, NO I DON’T WHAT THEY ARE DOING THERE, VERY EARLY THIS SPECIES. GOOD CATCHS OF FLOUNDER AND SNAPPER FOR THE ANGLERS FISHING THE Indian River, YES THEY ARE POMPANO SKIPPING BEHIND YOUR BOAT.
WAHOO AT THE HUNDRED FOOT MARK ON DEEP RUNNING BAITS.YES, THEY EAT TOP BAITS BUT YOU HAVE TO CATCH THEIR EYE FIRST. NICE WAHOO, THIRY POUND CLASS SEVERAL WERE TAKEN. THE NUMBERS ARE STILL IN LESS THAN FIFTY FEET ON ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE BAIT SCHOOLS. THE CATCH LIST IS LONG WITH SAILFISH; KINGS OF ALL SIZES EVEN A GOOD SHOWING OF DOLPHIN. LIVE BAITS TOP THE LIST. BOTTOM FISH HAS BEEN HOT OR COLD, YOU ARE EITHER IN FISH OR NOT. SPEND SOME TIME IN YOUR FAVORITE LOCATION BUT I WOULD NOT SPEND THE DAY THERE. GIVE IT A HALF-HOUR THEN CHANGE LOCATIONS. SHALLOWER RATHER THAN DEEPER, NO WE HAVE NOT RUN OUT OF BONITAS. BRING THE CAMERA, A PICTURE LASTS FOREVER.
AUG. 28,04 FISHING
SUN IS SHINING, SKY IS BLUE, THE RIVER IS FLAT AND THE OCEAN IS LIKE A POND, I LOVE SOUTH FLORIDA.
THREE MORE DAYS TILL SNOOK SEASON OPENS AND THE FISH ARE EVERYWHERE. THE BAIT SCHOOLS ARE TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE BEACH AND THE FISH ARE FOLOWING, FOR THEM IS A BUFFET. FOR YOU IT IS A PREFERED BITE. TARPON EARLY AND PLENTY OF BIG SNOOK. AS THE SUN RISES THE BLUES AND MACS MOVE IN AND THE SNOOK STILL HANG OUT. WHITING THROUGH OUT THE DAY AND THERE IS JACKS, BIG LADYFISH, A FEW POMPANO AND I AM MORE THAN SURE I HAVE LEFT SOMETHING OUT. USE YOUR BAIT RIGS TO CATCH LIVE BAIT AND PUT THEM RIGHT BACK IN THAT ZONE. WE WEIGHTED IN A TWELVE-POUND KING MAC THAT WAS CAUGHT CASTING FROM THE BEACH. OPENING DAY, CASTING A CHROME LURE, RED TAIL HAWK OR A LIVE BAIT WILL PUT A SNOOK IN YOUR COOLER. FISH EARLY, MONO LEADER, UP CLOSE IN THE FIRST TROUGH AND THEN STOP BY FOR A WEIGH IN AND PICTURE. SURF IS THE PLACE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR CAMERA. YES, YOU CAN USE A FLY ROD.
MULLET, PILCHARDS, BUNKER, PIN AND PIG FISH ARE THICK IN THE RIVER JUST AS THEY ARE IN THE SURF, SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CATCH. SNOOK AND TARPON AROUND THE BRIDGES, IN THE CHANNELS, SPILL WAYS. TROUT IN THE SHALLOWS, TRIPLE TAIL ON THE CHANNEL MARKERS, SNAPPERS ON THE CHANNEL EDGES AND THERE IS BLUES, POMPANO, DRUMAND SHEEPHEAD. THE BEST BITE TIMES MAY VARY FROM SPECIES TO SPECIES BUT THE BAIT IS HERE ALL-DAY AND SO ARE THE FISH. SNOOK WILL BE LOW LIGHT IN THE SHALLOWS OR AROUND THE STRUCTURES ANYWHERE THEY CAN HIDE OR HOLD THE BAIT FISH. THE TARPON HAVE BEEN ROLLING IN THE DEEPER AREAS; SMALLEST FINGER MULLET IS THE BAIT OF CHOISE. SUN IS UP LOOK FOR THE TRIPLETAIL ON THE CHANNEL MARKERS ANDWHILE YOU ARE THERE PUT A SHRIMP DOWN FOR A SNAPPER OF TWO. TROUT BITE IS EARLY ON TOP WATER, SHRIMP AFTER SUN UP. NEVER CAUGHT A FISH WITH A WATCH ON BUT IT SEEMS THEY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. CATCH A MOVING TIDE AND YOU WILL FIND A HUNGRY FISH.
KINGFISH AND SAILS HAVE KEPT MOST ANGLERS BUSY STARTING IN THE FORTY-FOOT ZONE. LOTS OF BAITS OUT THERE WATCH FOR THE BIRDS WORKING A BAIT SCHOOL, THAT USUALLY MEANS FISH ARE WORKING THE SCHOOL ALSO. WE HAVE SEVERAL REPORTS OF DOLPHIN THIS WEEK, NO PATTERN BUT FINALLY REPORTS. MOST DOLPHIN PUT IN THE BOATS CAME FROM A HUNDRED PLUS FEET BUT NO PATTERN. KINGS AND SAILS ARE ON THE BAIT SCHOOLS. WAHOO DROPPED FROM THE LIST, NO REASON OTHER THAN NO ONE IS TARGETING THE FISH. GET YOUR BAITS DEEP IN A HUNDRED FEET AND GO OUT FROM THERE, YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE ONE ON. BOTTOM FISHING CONTINUES TO BE NUMBERS OF SNAPPERS RATHER THAN BIG SNAPPERS FEW GROUPER. PUT SOME BAIT ON THE HOOKGIVE THEM PLENTY THEN THEY MIGHT GET IT BEFPRE THE TRIGGER AND LITTLE SNAPPER GET IT ALL. BIG FISH ARE DRAWN TO SMALL FISH FEEDING SO FEED THEM. BRING THE ICE YOU WILL NEED IT.
TILL NEXT WEEK LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DO OPENING NIGHT……….TAKE A CAMERA…………