Outdoors

Captain's Corner

Snook seasons opens this weekend

By JIM HUDDLESTON
Published August 30, 2007

What's hot: With snook season opening Saturday, most anglers will be in search of a slot-sized fish for dinner. Snook usually bite until Sept. 1 then are hard to find when everyone is targeting them. The prepared angler will have an assortment of baits. Larger fish will hold in swift moving currents such as the major passes along the beaches and canal mouths that lead into bayous. A4-inch pinfish is perfect. Tail-hooking the bait will allow the offering to cover more area as line is given out at small increments. Twitching the rod will make the pinfish swim away from anglers and work down the trough or ditch along a beach. In slower moving current, sardines work better as their flash will catch the attention of nearby snook. A medium-sized greenback hooked in the belly will work the bait low into the water column and interest lazy summer snook. When linesiders are not biting, a cutbait such as mullet or ladyfish will entice them to feed. The scent from the dead bait will be too much for even lethargic fish to pass up.

Tactics: Snook season and Labor Day weekend will compound the pressure on these fish. Often, downsizing tackle will help alleviate the pressure and increase the hookup ratio for anglers. The waters off St. Joseph Sound are clear and 25-pound fluorocarbon leader combined with a 1/0 hook is needed to get the bites. Loosen the drag a little to prevent breakoffs with the lighter line.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at jim@captainhud.com or 727 439-9017.

[Last modified August 30, 2007, 00:09:37]