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Productive snook fishing is based on strong tides and lively bait. Unfortunately, the upcoming major tides will coincide with the holiday weekend. Boat traffic will be at seasonal highs during the day, so snook anglers will be better off fishing at night. Snook are primarily nocturnal feeders anyway.
On the beach, pigfish, pinfish, threadfin herring and large greenbacks are consistently productive bait. If you are targeting larger fish around bridges and passes, a live mullet or ladyfish might produce a trophy-sized catch.
Use the proper-sized hook and tackle for the bait you choose. If you use a hook that is too small, you won't be able to pull it through the bait and into the snook's mouth. Tackle that's too heavy impedes the bait's action and causes an unnatural presentation.
If you're fishing on the beach, narrow your target area to submerged structures such as jetties, rock piles and old dock pilings. Snook seem to naturally congregate around such areas for protection as well as using them as a point of ambush.
This weekend should have some of the best fishing tides of the summer. The key to success is finding and fishing the snook before they are pressured too heavily.
- Pete Katsarelis charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at 727 439-3474 or by e-mail at pkatsare@helios.acomp.usf.edu