Captain's Corner

By Doug Hemmer

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2000

There are three major passes along Pinellas County that are holding schools of large snook. Clearwater Pass, John's Pass and Pass-a-Grille are hotspots during May, June and July.

These tight channels will produce fast currents during new and full moons.

Angling tactics need to be adjusted when fishing fast water. Baits should be hooked through the nose so they won't spin or wobble unnaturally. Weights should be heavy enough to reach the bottom but not so heavy that they get buried in the sand. Imagine yourself standing in the water where the current is fast and the water erodes the sand from under your feet until you start sinking into the sand. This is the same thing that happens to weights if they are too heavy or are left on the bottom too long. When a snook strikes a rig that's snagged on the bottom, you won't feel the hit and they will feel the resistance and drop the bait.

Baits can vary on the size of tackle being used. If I'm working areas close to bridges I'll use threadfins or scaled sardings rigged to 20-pound test and 30-pound leader. When fishing under bridges, I'll use grunts, shad or ladyfish rigged with 50-pound test and 80-pound leader. The trick to fishing these spots is to work them. Just because you're not catching snook doesn't mean they are not feeding. Go looking for them by anchoring in different spots over and over again.

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

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