Outdoors

Captain's Corner

Snook fishing around the dock lights has been productive.

By DOUG HEMMER
Published September 5, 2007

What's hot: Snook fishing around the dock lights has been productive. A free-lined shrimp will do the job, but snook seldom turn down a live ballyhoo. This year's spawn has produced large numbers of ballyhoo. The best time to find them is at night. Shine a spotlight over the flats until you see baits flipping on the surface. Stop the boat and get the cast net ready. Idle through the area until you see what looks like small needlefish. Cast a quarter-inch mesh net and close it as soon as the net hits the water. This will help keep the ballyhoo from jumping through the open spread of the net.

Tips: Anchor up-current of a light and free-line the bait so it sits in the light. This is what makes the ballyhoo better than shrimp. The shrimp works best when it drifts naturally through the light. A free-swimming ballyhoo will stay under the light. Nose hook it with a 1/0 hook. Keep the rod tip high so most of the line is out of the water. Most times you won't feel the hit, you'll see it. Snook will slam this bait with a crashing surface strike. Don't wait for the rod to bend. Set the hook hard and try to get the snook clear of the pilings.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 347-1389.

[Last modified September 4, 2007, 23:15:04]