Outdoors

Daily fishing report

Though snook season opened last month, now is the prime time for catching one of Florida's most coveted game fish.

Warmer than average temperatures have sparked feeding from these cold-sensitive fish. They are ganging up in spring haunts and feeding quite aggressively.

The key to productive snook fishing is good bait and strong tides.

Pilchard herring, usually called greenbacks or whitebait, are starting to show up on the flats of North Pinellas. The longer it takes the bait to show up and the harder it is to come by, the better the snook fishing will be. Bait inflation occurs when good bait is too readily available or has been around consistently for a length of time. At this point, the snook become increasingly selective. The sooner an angler can catch bait, the better the odds of catching a snook.

Another key is the tides: The stronger the tide, the better the fishing. New and full moon phases usually produce the strongest tides and the most water displacement. The strong south and southwest winds prevalent this time of year also do wonders. Ensuing outgoing tides present the best time to snook fish.

There is no better time to snook fish than the first week of greenback availability. Like its business counterpart, spend it while its value is high.

-- Capt. Pete Katsarelis charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at (727) 439-3474 or by e-mail at inshoreadventure@aol.com.

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