The Snook Nook FISHING REPORT
Always Bring Your Camera!
Current Fishing Reports
July 2007
JULY 7,07 FISHING
WELL WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY RAIN AND THERE WERE A FEW THAT WANTED RAIN, THEY GOT IT ALL AT ONE TIME. WE NEEDED THE RAIN BUT I AM NOT SURE IF WE NEEDED IT ALL IN ONE WEEK? WARM, RAIN, SUN, HUMIDTY, I LOVE THIS PLACE AND SO DO THE FISH.
COBIA AND KINGS, BIG DOLPHIN AND MUTTON SNAPPERS FOR A START. THE COBIA ARE HANGING ON THE REEFS, IT COULD BE THIRTY FEET OR SIXTY, FISH OF ALL SIZES. ANCHOR THE BOAT OVER A REEF AND LET THE MOTORS IDLE THE FISH WILL COME TO YOU. THE MUTTONS HAVE MOVED IN, GOOD NUMBERS AND SIZE IN DEPTH FROM 40FT OUT. GAG GROUPER AND AJ’S TO TEST YOUR WILL. KINGS IN THE THIRTY POUND CLASS AND SOME BARACUDA THAT WILL MAKE YOU CRAZY, YOU HAVE A BETTER SHOT IF YOU TROLL FOR THE KINGS, START IN THIRTY FEET AND STAY THERE. HAVE YOU TRIED THAT NEW WILLIAMS RIBBON FISH, IT IS KILLER. THE DOLPHIN WILL TEST YOU, BUT WHEN YOU FIND THEM THEY ARE IN THE TWENTY POUND CLASS AND BIGGER. AS MY FRIEND SQUEEKY WOULD SAY "RUN AND GUN" LOOK FOR TEMP LINES, LOOK AT THE WEEDS AND DO NOT SPEND A BUNCH OF TIME ON EITHER. LOOK FOR ACTIVITY, BAIT, FISH AND THING. WHATS THE TEMP, WHAT WERE THE TEMPS WHERE YOU CAUGHT YOUR LAST DOLPHIN, PAY ATTENTION COUSE YOU WILL FIND THEM AND THEY WILL BE OF EXCELLENT SIZE. HAD ONE THIS WEEK FROM 200’ AT SIXTY THREE POUNDS, IT WAS HIS ONLY CATCH. YES, WE HAVE SAIL FISH AND "BONITA FEST 2006" WILL MAKE YOU ALMOST AS CRAZY AND THE BARRACUDAS.
SMALL BOATS RUNNING THE SURF HAVEALL THE TARPON THEY CAN HANDLE, SQUEEKY HAD ONE ANGLER ON ONE FISH FOR THREE HOURS AND THE FISH NEVER GAVE UP. THREE HOURS INTO THE FIGHT MR. TARPON JUMPED FIVE FEET IN THE AIR AND RAN A HUNDRED YARDS OF LINE OFF. THE FISH WAS TO THE BOAT SEVERAL TIMES BUT NEVER GAVE UP KNOWING HE WOULD WEAR THE SIXTY POUND LEADER. ONE FOR THE FISH, ZERO FOR THE ANGLER, I LOVE WHEN THE FISH WIN. JACKS IN THE THIRTY POUND CLASS AND THE SNOOK HAVE MOVED IN TO SPAWN. ANGLERS STANDING ON THE BEACH HAVE HAD AN EXCELLENT WEEK. EARLY MORNING IS THE TIME CASTING LARGE RATTLING TOP WATER PLUGS, JACKS AND TARPON TURN ON THEM QUICK. SNOOK LIKE THE SMALLER SINKING PLUGS, DRAG THEM IN THE SAND IN THE FIRST TROUGH AND HANG ON, THEY HIT HARD. PLENTY OF WHITING AND CROAKERS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY BRING THE ICE.
RIVER ANGLERS, WATER TEMPS ARE HIGH; YOU NEED TO BE IN THE WATER BEFORE SUN UP. THAT IS WHEN THE BEST NUMBERS ARE WORKING. TOP WATER IN THE SKINNY WATER, REDS, TROUT AND SNOOK TOP THE CATCH LIST. THERE ARE PLENTY OTHERS BUT THIS GROUP MAKES UP THE GREATEST PART. YES THE FISH HANG OUT IN FIVE FEET OF WATER AND THAT IS WHERE THEY GO AFTER THE SUN COMES UP. BRIDGE ANGLERS FISH THE EARLY HOURS AND THE LATE HOURS THAT WILL BE YOUR BUSY TIME.
TILL NEXT WEEK, ENOUGH RAIN……
JULY 8,07 FISHING
JUST ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN SOUTH FLORIDA, BIG BRIGHT SUN, BEAUTIFUL BLUE WATER, NO WIND AND FISH NOT SURE IT CAN BET BETTER.
THE SURF IS ACTION ZONE, LOTS OF FISH ALL IN CASTING RANGE COME ON DOWN AND GET YOUR FEET WET. BIG BAIT SCHOOLS, SARDINES, GLASS MINNOWS AND FISH CRASHING THROUGH THEM. TARPON ROLLING MOST OF THE DAY, MORNING SEEMS TO BE THE BITE TIME BUT THEN I NEVER HAVE CAUGHT A FISH WITH A WATCH ON. CHROME TOP WATER, SPOONS, SMALL RUBBER BAITS HAVE ALL REPORTED HOOK UPS, NOT ONE LANDED THAT I HAVE HEARD OF. LOTS OF JUMPS, LOTS OF LINE RIPPING, LOTS OF TIRED ANGLERS AND THE TARPON STILL ARE WINNING. WHEN YOU ARE STANDING ON THE BEACH AND HAVE TARPON ON THE LINE IT WILL TEST YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR EQUIPMENT. BLUE FISH AND MAC’S ALL DAY ON SMALL SPOONS, CROME GOT-CHA LURES, IF IT LOOKS LIKE A GLASS MINNOW CAST IT, ALL THESE FISH ARE TEN FEET FROM YOUR FEET. WHITING, CROAKER, POMPANO, SNOOK, BIG JACKS THE LIST IS LONG AND THE ACTION GOES ALL DAY. SUN BLOCKER IS A MUST, SEVEN FOOT ROD WITH LOTS OF FIFTEEN POUND TEST AND LET’S GO CATCH A FISH.
RIVER FISHING HAS BEEN AT LOW LIGHT NOW IF YOU SLEEP IN ITS OK, LOOK TO DEEPER WATER OR SHADED WATER, THE FISH WANT OUT OF THE BRIGHT SUN, UNLESS THEY ARE HANGING AROUND THE BEACH. TARPON IN THE NORTH FORK UP BUY CLUB MED, TARPON AT THE ROOSEVELT, IN THE WIDE ST. LUCIE, CROSSROADS, STUART CAUSWAY,POWER PLANT, THERE IS LOTS OF TARPON THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THEY EATING TODAY? TROUT IS EASY START ON A GRASS EDGE USING YOUR FAVORED SOFT BAIT OR LIVE SHRIMP AS THE SUN RISES GO DEEPER AND YES THE BLUES AND MAC’S WILL MAKE YOU CRAZY. YES, THE TROUT ARE IN THE ST. LUCIE THE WATER IS BEAUTIFUL; LEAVE IT TO MOTHER NATURE, NO RAIN. THE REDS ARE LIMITED TO THE INDIAN RIVER WITH SEVERAL LOCATIONS BUT YOU NEED TO BE THERE BEFORE SUN UP AFTER THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY GO. LOTS OF JACKS AND GOOD SIZE JACKS SO DO NOT SET THAT ROD DOWN. AREA BRIDGES, DRUM, SHEEPHEAD, SNAPPER AND THE LIST GOES ON INCLUDING TARPON. WHY NOT THEY OFFER DEEP WATER, SHADED WATER, BAIT SCHOOLS AND PLENTY OF AMBUSH POINTS, THE BRIDGES HAVE BEEN HOT.
OFF SHORE IT HAS BEEN A LOT MORE FISHING THAN CATCHING AND NOT SURE WHY. THE KING FISH HAS BEEN AN EASY BITE STARTING IN THE FORTY FEET ZONE ON LIVE BAIT AND SPOONS. THE REST GET SCATTERED, WE HAVE HAD FISH FROM EIGHTY FEET OUT WITH NO REASON. THE RIPS ARE THERE, COLOR LINES, YOU NAME IT ALL LOOKS GOOD EXCEPT THE FISH. BONITA FEST 07 HAS STARTED SO EXTRA BAIT IS MANDATORY, THEY MAKE GREAT BAIT. I KNOW WHERE ARE THE DOLPHIN? ALL CATCHS REPORTED HAVE BEEN FROM A HUNDRED FEET OUT AND THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE. TROLLERS ARE TAKING DINNER TO THE FISH COVERING GROUND. IT HAS BEEN TWO HERE ONE THERE NO PATTERN. CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT JUST HARD TO FIND. MY THOUGHTS ARE TO GO DEEP OUT TO 400 FEET AND START THERE IN THE BRIGHT BLUE WATER. LOTS OF SAIL FISH, FEW MARLIN (BONITO MAKE GREAT BAIT), MEDIUM WAHOO ON DOWN BAITS BUT I KNOW WHER ARE THE DOLPHIN? MAYBE NEXT WEEK. GOOD BOTTOM BITE OF ALL SNAPPERS AND FEW GAG’S AGAIN BRING EXTRA BAIT THE AJ’S WILL MAKE YOU CRAZY.
WHERE IS THE SUN BLOCK AND DID YOU BRING THE CAMERA?
JULY 22, 07 FISHING
WHAT CAN I SAY, JUST ANOTHER PERFECT DAY IN SOUTH FLORIDA. JUST CAME BACK FROM THE BEACH, HAD TO DRIVE OVER AND CHECK IT OUT, COUPLE OF BREATHS OF THAT SALT BREEZE THE OCEAN IS BEAUTIFUL. BACK IN THE OFFICE LOOKING OUT MY OFFICE WINDOW AT THE INDIAN RIVER AND THE BOATS, I LOVE THIS PLACE.
I WAS HOPING THIS WEEK I WOULD HAVE SOME GREAT DOLPHIN REPORTS BUT THING HAVE NOT CHANGED. ONE HERE ONE THERE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MENTION, THE WATER IS PERFECT WITH WEED, COLOR, BAIT AND ALL THE RIPS BUT THE DOLPHIN ARE ABSENT. ANGLERS REPORT SCHOOLS OF SMALL FISH BUT NOT ONE TO PUT IN THE BOAT, DOLPHIN OF SIZE HAVE BEEN IN 400’ AND DEEPER BUT NOT NUMBERS TO MOTOR TO. KINGS AND COBIA UP CLOSE 30’ TO 40’ AND TOO MANY SAIL FISH AT 100’. LOTS OF ROD PULLERS JUST NOT THE DOLPHIN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. COBIA TO SIXTY POUNDS JUST HANGING OUT WITH THE RAYS AND SWIMMING TO THE BOAT, NO ROCKET SCIENCE HERE GANG.
COBIA WILL SWIM TO THE BOAT HAVE THAT OTHER ROD RIGGED AND READY TO PITCH BAIT AND PLEASE NO KNIVES TO THE GUN FIGHT, A FORTY POUND COBIA WILL SMOKE THE DRAG ON A SMALL REEL. BOTTOM FISHING IN THAT SAME DEPTH HAS BEEN EXCELLENT WITH ALL THE SNAPPERS A FEW GROUPER AND MORE COBIA, I LOVE THIS PLACE.
RIVER HAS BEEN AN EARLY BITE, ON THE CATCH LIST TROUT, REDS, TARPON, BLUES AND MAC’S WITH KINGS AND BONITA IN THE FT. PIERCE TURNING BASIN. THAT IS A FIRST, KING AND BONITA FROM THE CAT WALK UNDER SOUTH BRIDGE. WITH ALL THE BAIT IN THE SURF THEY MUST HAVE CHASED THEM IN THE INLET TO THE TURNING BASIN. HAD REPORTS ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, HOW ABOUT A TWENTY NINE POUND AMBER JACK FROM THE JETTY. LOTS OF NICE TROUT WEATHER YOU A FISHING THE SPOILS NORTH OF NORTH BRIDGE AND SOUTH IN THE SAIL FLATS FOUR POUND FISH ARE HERE. THE BEST PART IS THEY WILL EAT ABOUT ANYTHING, LIVE, SPOONS, SOFT RUBBER AND YES THE FLY ANGLERS ARE DOING REAL WELL. REDS TO THE NORTH IN GOOD NUMBERS, TO SOUTH SCATTERED BUT BOTH LOCATIONS MEAN YOU WILL BE FISHING BEFORE SUN UP. LOTS OF TARPON, LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT LOCATIONS AND THERE STILL THERE. TRIPLE TAIL ON THE CHANNEL MARKERS AND IN GOOD NUMBERS, DRIFT TO THEIR LOCATION, NO MOTORS. BRIDGES HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD WITH A LONG CATCH LIST BUT IT IS THE SNAPPERS THAT ARE KEEPING MOST OF THE BRIDGE BOYS BUSY, SOME VERY GOOD SIZE. MOVING WATER IS THE KEY INCOMING OR OUT GOING JUST SO IT IS MOVING.
SURF FISHING IS OUT OF CONTROL, THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED IN A WEEK. IF IT SHINES CAST IT, CHROME AND FLASH, MATCH THE HATCH. CLOUDS OF BAIT, GLASS MINNOWS, SARDINES, THREAD FIN, WHITING, AND CROKERS TO NAME A FEW, A BAIT FISH BANQUET. THE GUEST LIST AT THE BANQUET, TARPON, SNOOK, BONITO, KINGS, AND A FEW I KNOW I LEFT OFF, THE SURF IS HOT.
SUNGLASS’S, HAT, SUN BLOCKER AND A CAMERA, DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITH OUT THEM…………………………………HENRY
JULY 30, 07 FISHING
PERFECT MORNINGS, SEA CONDITIONS EXCELLENT AND AFTERNOON SHOWERS, JUST NORMAL SOUTH FLORIDA AND COULD IT GET ANY BETTER?
SAIL FISH WEEK, ONE WOULD THINK IT WAS JANUARY, THE BITE IS HOT AND ALL IN 60’ TO 100’. WITH ALL THE LIVE BAIT IN THE AREA THE FISH ARE FAT AND HAPPY. ANGLERS REPORTS ARE UNUSUAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, MULTIPUL HOOK UPS, FISH NEXT TO THE BOAT, AND LOTS OF SURFACE ACTIVITY. TROLLED BAITS, LIVE BAITS, ARTIFIACAL BAITS, ANY METHOD HAS THEIR ATTENTION. THESE ARE RESIDENT FISH, ALL GOOD SIZE; IT IS THE NUMBERS THAT HAS EVERYONE LOOKING. THE KINGS AND COBIA FROM 40’ HAS MOST ANGLERS UP CLOSE LOOKING TO PUT A FISH IN THE BOAT AND THE DOLPHIN, LETWS SAY WE ARE STILL LOOKING. WE HAD A FEW IN AND THEY REALY NICE FISH BUT THE CATCH LOCATION WERE SO HIT AND MISS THE PATTERN, WELL LET’S JUST SAY IS NONE. BOTTOM FISH HAS BEEN NUMBERS, NOT BIG BUT PLENTY FROM 40’ OUT PUT A SARDINE DOWN AND BEND A ROD, HOW SIMPLE IS THAT. NO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ROD BENDERS "BONITO FEST" IS ON. THES GUY ARE EVERY WHERE SO BRING SOME EXTRA BAITS YOU WILL NEED THEM. TRY A BONE HEAD ON A FLY ROD, HAVE ALL THE KIDS WITH YOU, JUST WANT THE ACTION THAT WILL KEEP ALL THE ANGLERS BUSY ON THE BOAT, TRY A SCHOOL OF BONITAS THEY WILL PROVIDE THE ROD BENDING, DRAG PULLING AND ACTION THAT MAKE FOR A LOT FUN ON ANY OUTING. THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE TIME I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT SCHOOL OF BONITA. A FEW WEE-HOO, TUNA OR TWO ANDA FEW I LEFT OUT, BLUE WATER FISHING HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD.
WELL THE TARPON ON THE BEACH WON, THE ANGLERS GAVE UP, THE WIMPS. YES, THE TARPON HAVE THINNED, NOW AT JUST FOUR LOCATION RATHERS THAN MILES OF THEM. EARLY IS THE BITE TIME FROM WALTON ROCKS, COUNTY LINE, STUART AND BATH TUB ACCESS POINTS. SPOONS, DOA BAIT BUSTER, YOZURI CRYSTAL MINNOW, TOP THE LIST BUT IF IT HAS FLASH YOU HAVE A TACKER, HANG ON. NOW IT GETS BETTER WITH LIMITS OF POMPANO CHANGING FROM DAY TO DAY BUT STILL BITING, FEW BLUES, FEW MAC’S AND PLENTY OF WHITING AND CROAKER.
IT IS SUMMER, RIVER FISHING IS BEFORE SUN UP, THE ICW IS VERY SHALLOW IN OUR AREA WITH A SAND BOTTOM AND WATER TEMPS GET VERY WARM VERY FAST. LOTS OF SLOT TROUT FOR WADERS AND SMALL BOATERS AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. SLOT FISH IN NUMBERS MEAN THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF BIG FISH LAYING LOTS EGGS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. IF YOU ARE TARGETING THE BIG FISH LOOK IN THE SHALLOW WATER, SO SHALLOW THAT YOU CAN SEE THE ACTIVITY. TOP WATER IS THE CHOISE BUT THE BITE TIME IS NARROW, SUN UP THESE FISH MOVE TO DEEP WATER AND IT IS HARD TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. THE UP SIDE IS THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THE TRIPLE TAIL MOVE IN TO HANG ON THE CHANNEL MARKERS. IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET THES FISH YOU HAVE TO STELTH, QUIET AND READY TO SET THE HOOK. DRIFT TO THE CHANNEL MARKERS, A SHRIMP ON A JIG HEAD, AND A FAST TAPER ROD IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE. THE FISH WILL EAT THE SHRIMP BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO TURN THE FISH RIGHT NOW OR HE WILL GO AROUND THE MARKERS. YES, THE TARPON ARE IN THE NORTH FORK, CLUB MED AREA, FISH AT SUN UP, IF IT LOOKS LIKE A CRAB, SMELLS LIKE A CRABS OR ACTS LIKE A CRAB THROW IT BUT BE THERE FOR SUN UP. THE BRIDGES HAD A LOT OF SUPRISES THIS WEEK FROM BIG SCHOOLS OF BLUE FISH TO BIG MAC’S AND POMPANO BUT THE BIG DRUM IS THE SURPRISE. WE HAVE A LOT OF BLACK DRUM AT THE BRIDGES SOME IN THE TWELVE POUND CLASS BUT THESE HAVE BEEN BIG, THIRTY AND FORTY SOME THAT COULD NOT BE LANDED, I SAID BIG BLACK DRUM. WE USUALLY WILL SEE A FEW BUT THIS WEEK THEY HAVE BEEN THERE IN NUMBERS SO IF THAT IS YOUR TARGET PLEASE NO KNIVES AT THE GUN FIGHT.
TILL NEXT WEEK, DID I TELL YOU HAW MUCH I LOVE THIS PLACE?
Previous Fishing Reports will be found here in the ARCHIVES...
JUNE 2007 MAY 2007 APRIL 2007 MARCH 2007 FEBRUARY 2007 JANUARY 2007 DECEMBER 2006 NOVEMBER 2006 OCTOBER 2006 SEPTEMBER 2006 AUGUST 2006 JULY 2006 JUNE 2006 MAY 2006 APRIL 2006 MARCH 2006 FEBRUARY 2006 JANUARY 2006 DECEMBER 2005 NOVEMBER 2005 NO OCTOBER 2005 REPORTS SEPTEMBER 2005 AUGUST 2005 JULY 2005 JUNE 2005 MAY 2005 APRIL 2005 MARCH 2005 FEBRUARY 2005 NO JANUARY 2005 REPORTS NO DECEMBER 2004 REPORTS NOVEMBER 2004 OCTOBER 2004 SEPTEMBER 2004 AUGUST 2004 JULY 2004 JUNE 2004 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