Hit the window just right

[SirSnookalot]

Snook fishing is all about hitting the window of opportunity at the right time. I was fishing one of my go to spots and right from the first cast I get a bump, that bump led into 8 -10 snook pus 2 tarpon, 2 of the snook were in the 40" range, rest dinks 24-28".

On one cast I hook a snook, lose him, crank 2-3 times and hook another, lose that one then crank a few more times and I got a tarpon on the line, which I landed.  I had 1 on the line and was getting spooled, batten the drag down, big mistake, and snapped my braid like it was thread, lost half the spool of line...nature of the beast out here.

Went out today, same conditions, not a strike.

[Nice_Bass]

Happens to me all the time in IL

[SirSnookalot]

It doesn't happen that often down here, except during the fall mullet run when the blues, jacks and ladyfish are in.

[NateFollmer]

I'm coming to Florida next time I want to fish the salt  :-/

Pics or it didn't happen! You were probably just bass fishin' the whole time...  :D

[SirSnookalot]

HAHA, have posted plenty of pics, seldom carry a camera along. Got another this morning about this size.

[NateFollmer]

Nice fish! I'd love to make it to the ocean for a tarpon run. I guess I should probably catch something else first because it looks like tarpon are a pretty tough fight I just use my phone to take pics of fish. I think my wife would destroy me if I took the SLR fishing HA

[SirSnookalot]

Sometimes I put a small camera in my fanny pack, but hardly ever is anyone around to snap the photo anyway.  Someone just happen to be walking by so I ran back to car to get my cell phone.  Most of the guys just put a lure on the rod and go, needless to no scale or measures.

 

[NateFollmer]

I guess those fish aren't like bass where you can take the shot yourself Unless you'd lay it on the sand, but I bet they wouldn't hold still.

[SirSnookalot]

Sometimes they flop pretty good, other times they just lay there.  To photo them by a lip grab you only get their head in the photo, kinda useless.  You could always set up a tripod but then you are restricted to one area.  Are you a fisherman or photographer?  When fishing those places you have to be prepared to walk 1/2 mile or more looking for bait or fish, this is really sight fishing to a small degree.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Great picture Snook.  I grabbed a few decent slot sized snook late yesterday when I was checking out the boat down in Homestead.  Went over to Black Point and tossed the classic DOA shrimp next to a spillway and it was game on.  I almost forgot how much fun they are to catch.  Almost made me want to get my snook stamp again.

[SirSnookalot]

Don't need a stamp now, they are out of season due to the winter kill.  Has been talk of opening in September  but I've heard of no confirmation.

No question they are fun and this is the time of year, exactly why I do very little bass fishing now.  I got a couple around that 40" mark last week, but one of the guys here caught one that weight about 30#.

[GLADES]

With your regular snook fishing experience, do you feel the snook populations have diminished this year from the winter kill, or are things pretty much normal?

It is sad that a fisherman cannot take one home for the table.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

From what I've seen, and I stress the word "I've," they seem to be doing fine.  Mind you, I fish much further south than Snookalot does.  I couldn't tell you what it's like up north.  I was at BPS yesterday, they aren't even selling snook stamps right now.  They're thinking snook may re-open later in the year or early next year.  I agree that it stinks that you can't take any home right now.  Snook have got to be one of the best eating fish around.

[Bassn Blvd]

The snook population wasn't diminishing when they changed the laws 20 years ago.  They went from 4 snook and 18 inch minimum to the current laws for no good reason.  There have been at least 2 or 3 changes in between.  In fact, cuban snook (flatsides) don't even reach keeping size.  I'm fed up with the BS snook limitations.

[SirSnookalot]

I have only read of winter kill of snook but have not seen it myself.  I will say that I'm catching less snook than I did last year but some of that has to do with my home spot being shut down for the last year or so.  I hear they are killing them up at Juno.  As soon as the winds die down a little bit and less seaweed coming in I'm heading up to Hobe Sound and fish the Refuge.

[GonzoFishing]

Nice fish! I love snook fishing! I went out yesterday to a small pond off the turnpike and saw a couple of decent snook and tons of peacock bass. Managed to catch this small tarpon. Had to take him out of the water because my leader was wrapped around his gill so I had my bro take a picture.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Gotta love those smaller Tarpon on light tackle.  They are such awesome fish.

Those little ponds and canals off of the Turnpike are like gold mines.  I think I found a spot that I can launch my boat into one of the western canals that run along the length of the Turnpike up here in Broward.  Going to have to cruise down in the area one day to see how feasible it is.

[SirSnookalot]

Nice tarpon, wish we had freshies up here.  I would drive down there for sure for some action like that, don't know the Miami area.

[GonzoFishing]

Gotta love those smaller Tarpon on light tackle. They are such awesome fish.

Those little ponds and canals off of the Turnpike are like gold mines. I think I found a spot that I can launch my boat into one of the western canals that run along the length of the Turnpike up here in Broward. Going to have to cruise down in the area one day to see how feasible it is.

Tell me about it! ;D This one little retention pond has a canal running into it. Apparently this canal runs all the way to the Biscayne Bay so not only do you see awesome freshwater fish like Peacocks, LMB, Cichlids of all types, catfish and a nasty looking eel but you also get Snook and Tarpon to top it off! So far I only caught Snook and Tarpon on livies but one of these days I'm going to go and use only lures and try my luck.

[GonzoFishing]

Nice tarpon, wish we had freshies up here. I would drive down there for sure for some action like that, don't know the Miami area.

Hey SirSnookalot, I sent you a PM with more details.

[SirSnookalot]

thank you

[0119]

You guys are lucky to have such good snook fishing on the east coast. Charlotte Harbor was hit bad by the freezes, no matter what the experts and guides say. I fish more for freshwater snook than the ones in the harbor.  Most of the canals were scummed over solid with dead fish. That being said the snook bite has been better than I can remember ever since. Over here we need more regs not less. Too many tournaments, too many mishandling guides and slob fisherman who take home everything they catch. Never a sign of serious FWC enforcement.