Snook action has continued to thrill anglers across Tampa Bay.
Schools of feeding snook can be sightfished or at least spotted in the shallows, and though many large fish have moved to spawn, worthy fish are available.
Look in areas with good water movement. Anywhere the tide moves around points, rocks or mangroves is a good place to find summer snook. They have been in large groups, and fish after fish will offer excitement until the bite stops. The best action seems to come early in the day, but on a recent trip fish were caught all day. Usually a good incoming tide is crucial.
Greenbacks, also known as scaled sardines, are the best bait. Pinfish and shrimp work too. Sardines have been difficult to obtain, so allow plenty of time for catching bait before fishing. A 1/4-inch mesh net is good, because small sardines can wreck a standard net, and a net full of gilled bait is a waste of a resource and a waste of time. Mangrove snapper are extremely cooperative and love smaller baits. Look for them at the base of range markers, around bridge-piling clusters, deep docks or any location with structure. They are scrappy fighters, and braided line is not a bad idea. A smaller live-bait hook and a split shot or two on 30-pound leader is a practical rig for mangroves.
- Dave Walker charters out of Tampa. Call 813 310-6531 or e-mail at www.snookfish.com
Officials want public input on proposed pompano limits
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has scheduled a series of public workshops to receive input on management options for pompano.
The commission wants to eliminate overfishing of pompano by reducing overall landings by 10 percent. To achieve this goal the FWC is considering a range of possible measures including reducing the aggregate recreational bag limit for pompano and permit, reducing the pompano commercial trip limit and increasing size limits.
The commission also is proposing to limit commercial licenses to prevent expansion of the fishery, and to apply commercial limits to state and federal waters.
The nearest public workshop to the Tampa Bay area will be at the Administration Building at 1660 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota. For more information call 850 487-0554 or go to www.floridaconservation.org
- Information from Times wires was used in this report.
