Snook Nook Fishing Reports

FISHING 4/24/10

Starting to feel like summer, less wind and warm, I love this place. Starting to hear about Tarpon on the beach, Excellent Snook (season is still closed), Blues for the early angler, Trout in the summer location, yes it is almost here, summer.

This week it was all the Bonita from 40’ out and yes you needed extra bait, they are small but will eat anything that moves. The up side is that they make great bait, strips, chunk and whole depending on the species that you target. This week it was 100’ that was the action zone, Dolphin, Sails, Kings and a Wahoo or two. To go deep was to find small Black Fin Tuna and Bonita, beat bet was the 100’ mark weather you were trolling or live baiting that was the zone that most bent rods were located. Seas were polite one day and not so the next, polite early than of question later in the day, I wish I could be a weather man. Summer, May, Bonita, starting to sound like Marlin on the treasure coast, catching a few to the south, soon it will our turn.

On the beach for the early angler it is Blues, still waiting for the bigger fish but still plentiful, casting spoons or cut baits. Mid morning that summer sun will warm the edge and the Blues will back off with the cooler water and in come the Whiting, Pompano and Snook to name a few. Clams and shrimp pieces will keep their attention. As the surf warms the Snook bite will pick up, the season is closed, do not beach these fish it will wipe off their slim coat and that is their protection mush like your skin, please handle them with care we want them back. Plenty of Jacks and some of rather large size so do not wander away from your equipment they will teach it to swim.

It must be summer, what happened to our Red Fish, heard a lot about them but they are just not taking the baits. Small or Rat Reds as they are called have been on the west side of the Indian River from Mid way Road south and on the east side from North Bridge north and early is the only time I have heard of them on the chew. Before sun up be on location and it is the time for the bigger Trout so you were going to be there any ways. For the Trout it is top water be it a Zara Spook, Skitter walk or a Bomber Walkie Talkie work them slow, give the fish a chance to locate them. For the Reds, that Gold Spoon or a shrimp on a jig head again slow down let the fish have a chance, summer mode. Still plenty of big Lady Fish, Jacks and Blues to keep a rod bent. From the bridges still Pompano and a pretty good bite I might add, some Mac’s and plenty of Drum. Flounder in and out would be best to describe, it seems that every body is catching one here and there but still no area to go to, just happened to be there. Tarpon at the Ft. Pierce jetty, on the surf edge down by Shockers, two on in the St. Lucie south of the dime bridge, they are starting to show, I love summer.

Till next week, just because you see a bent rod, please give every body lots of room….a little courtesy goes a long way………..Henry

Less than polite seas again this week has made off shore fishing “sporty” to say the least. Our morning started out pretty nice but as the hours went so did the wind and sea conditions. Wind was changing directions and then the clouds made most anglers take note. Again this week the zone was 300’, yes there were some fish in closer but to find fish with some sort of a pattern it was deep. In the deeper water it was Dolphin, Sails and some good size Black Fins, up closer a little different. Hit and miss was about it, lots of small Black Fins and Bonita, a few Kings and some small Dolphin but you had to look, spend some time and conditions just did not allow for that type of angling. Plenty of live bait from several locations and there were fish feeding but that’s it fish feeding. Bottom fishing has saved the day with plenty of Muttons for the box and big AJ”S to keep your arms hurting, 60’ to 80’ on the close in reefs.

>From the surf the Blues are still pulling through the morning hours, this is the time of the year when the bigger Blues show. Cut baits and if it is chrome throw it, Spoons and Top Water will find plenty of action. With the wind making it less than polite try a cast master, they are made for casting in the wind and the best part is they work. After the sun is up and the edge starts to warm the Blues back off and in come the Whiting in good numbers and with them it is Pompano. From north of Bath Tub, not even the fish like the run off from lake “O”.

Trout and Red Fish, north of Taylor Creek and South of Bear Point to the Stuart Causeway, you need to get away from the fresh water, casting soft rubber baits, top water (early) and a live shrimp will bring them to the boat. These fish have been in two feet of water and they are hungry. Fishing early most anglers did not have to deal with the wind but if you are like me look for the flat water and look shallow. The docks on the west side of the Indian River have been hot for the Reds but there is a good mix to the east side and big Lady Fish or a twenty pound Jack to test your equipment. Finally the water is warming, yes we have wind but we also have warm and I love it, now it is time for the wind to stop and we can get back to east side or west and Tarpon. Please release that Snook as quickly as possible and if he has taken that hook deep just cut the leader and I will buy you another hook, just stop in. One more thing before I go, if you should see a county commissioner ask them why not a word about all this run off?????? HENRY

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