Snook Nook Fishing Reports

FISHING 6/21/09

Seas are flat, forecast 1' to 2' all week, small boaters this is your weather. Tarpon, big Snook, bigger Jacks, Permit and Cobia are all here and you can be right in the middle of it all. Just out of casting range from the beach but you are not limited to the surfs edge. Bring your fly rod or your spinning equipment and test the warranty. Favored bait has been a crab but they will eat about any thing that you throw as long as it is small, lots of glass minnows, glass minnows everywhere. Did I mention the Spanish Mac's are there also? this is the time of the year when the Dolphin become a hard catch, no pattern to them but deep is where I would be looking. there is always a few up close just never at my boat but I do get to see, weight and photo them. From the mid point in the gulf stream to the east is the area I would be trolling or live baiting that area seems to be the zone for most catches of size. Still plenty of Cobia from 40' out, Sails a plenty and did you notice the Bonita. Bonita fest 2009, it seams that they are every where from top to bottom eating any thing that hits the water, bring extra baits. Bottom fishing has been excellent, big Muttons, big Mangroves, even some nice Yellow Tails if you can get your baits through the Bonita's, sand pile and junk pile are two locations.

Casting from the beach it has been Snook and more Snook, how do they know the season is closed. The Snook bite has been excellent in the shallowest of water. These fish are not way out they are at your toes, lot easier to catch dinner in a foot of water than ten feet. There has been a few Tarpon in casting range, no hook ups yet but today is a new day, inlet jetties have been their location. Plenty of Whiting, if you are not getting them, just move north or south to the next access and you will be in the fish, do not forget the ice.

River anglers, bright sun and clear water has narrowed your bite time, fish early, if you are watching the sun come up I know you are there for the bite. Big Trout on top water, Reds on a jig from many locations and on your way in check out the channel markers. Triple Tail and plenty of them, they like the bright sun, hit them on the head with a shrimp but please if you are going to catch these fish you need to horse them away from the poles.

Till next week, long sleeves, sun block, hats do not leave home with out them...........Henry

6/13/09 FISHING

Beautiful week, warm temps, bright sun just makes you want to lay by the river, the surf or the pool but just not be active. Well the fish feel the same, look for a comfort zone and only move when you have to. Summer fishing, early or late, low light is the key but maybe that will not work for your day so plan ahead. Where are the shaded river areas, deeper channels or how about the inlets. With or with out a boat you know the areas if not ask at your local tackle shop they will put you on to the comfort zones.

Fishing the flats means you are on location before sun up casting top water into the shallows, good Red Fish bite and the big Trout looking for breakfast. Watch for activity, bait jumping, fish pushing water, all very shallow. Now comes that big sun it is time to start looking for that shaded shore line, power plant north, North bridge to Round Island, these areas have trees to the shore line, have you taken a cruise up into the North Fork lately? How about the shade of the docks on the west side of the Indian River great location for the Reds, Trout, Snook and a few I forgot. Use a live shrimp or a bait you can work slowly, remember the comfort zone. Bridge anglers fish the deeper channel, shadow of the bridge, the zone out of that bright sun. Good bite of Drum, Sheephead, Sand Perch and yes Trout and Snook like that shaded area also, shrimp is the preferred bait.

Surf, get your feet wet, that is where the fish are. Early through late morning, afternoon high tides also for great fishing. Plenty of Whiting for the table, mixed with a few croaker and the best part is they are there all day. But if like to walk the beach casting a plug get there early and you will be there the same time the Snook, Tarpon, Permit and a few I am not sure of, watch the sun come up and enjoy our great beaches.

Off shore it was all about deep water, from 250' out on trolled baits. Yes, there were fish in closer but a hard find. If any Dolphin of any size or numbers were deep, they were hungry but scattered at best. Plenty of Bonita's and this is the depth that the Black Fins were found, plenty of Bonita every where. The Cobia and small Kings saved the day along with Sail Fish and more Sails. Live bait again this weekend was a hard find, live bait fans take some MULLET with you they are every where of all sizes and they work. What ever you favored bait bring extra, you will have to get your bait past the Bonita to catch a fish. Sardines for the bottom anglers and the bite was outstanding if you could get that sardine past the bonitos.

Till next week, sun screen, glass's, hat and long sleeves manditory....now go catch a fish.....HENRY

FISHING JUNE 7.09

Well it is summer, beautiful mornings and afternoon showers, we sure needed the rain just not as much.

Off shore , where is the bait is all I heard all week and it was a tough find with the cooler water, then came Sunday and the bait was every where. To many anglers had looked all week to go past them in the inlet so you know what the inlet looked like Sunday morning, it was quite a scene. No bait usually means cooler water, in that case let temp's be you guide, run till you get to the warmer water and then put the bally hoo to work. Now if the bait is in the inlet the options are yours from shallow to deep. Starting the week the fish were in two hundreds plus and by the week end the fish had moved in. The action zone way the hundred foot mark and in, good bite of Kings and Cobia in that forty foot zone, plenty of Snapper for the bottom angler, Sails and Dolphin were at the hundred foot zone. Just to make sure you are awake the Bonita have been every where from shallow to deep, Bonita fest has started. So no matter the bait have some extra, they have a great appetite. Yes, there are some Black Fin Tuna running with the Bonita, slow down and let your baits sink, get below the school, that is where the Black Fins like to be.

Surfs edge Whiting and more Whiting so do not forget to bring a bucket of ice to keep your catch a fresh as possible. These fish are up close so it is a pitch not a cast to get your bait in the zone. Snook, Permit and Tarpon were on the catch list this week, excellent Tarpon on the north side of the jetty, Permit at Walton Rocks on crabs and the Snook are every where eating their full of Whiting. If you have not fished the surf it is time, seven foot rod, fifty series reel with plenty of fifteen pound test and forty pound leader, you are ready come on down. Leave your shoes in the car, get your toes wet and make a few casts, fishing the surf you never know what will be on the other end.

The river has been like glass, top water early, one that works slow and has a bit of a rattle to it. Big Trout early in the shallowest water, as the sun rises just back out to deeper water using a soft rubber bait on the smallest jig head, you want your bait to sink slowly. Slot size Red Fish on the west bank from mid way road to the Jensen causeway, bite time is short from dark to sun up, gold spoons are the bait. The spill ways are running sending lots of fresh water to the Roosevelt Bridge, Tarpon and Snook are there eating the small crabs but the Drum and Sand Perch have moved out, they prefer the water with a little more salt. First week I have not heard Pompano and bridge used in the same sentence, sure heard a lot big Spanish Mac's at the flood of the high tide. So if you are fishing the river fish early across the flats as that sun gets up go to the deeper water of the shaded water, there is plenty of fish.

Where is the sun block and did I mention the rain gear?????????...have a great week...HENRY

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