Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Daily fishing report

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 30, 2001

Where do snook go when the dock lights turn off and the sun comes up? If you know, you better keep it to yourself, or you will have every angler in the bay sitting on your honey hole.

How did all the keeper snook know the season opened and develop lockjaw? Why are snook so hard to catch?

If snook were easy to catch, they would not get the respect they have. Few fish are as finicky, stubborn or addictive.

Even with the season opening a month ago, many anglers have not gotten their fix.

Following a few fundamentals may increase your catch.

First, make your presentation natural. Snook are not accustomed to bait being dropped in from heaven, so let it swim with the tide.

Second, don't bring your bait right across the snook's nose. They are used to bait trying to get away, not swimming up to greet them.

Third, match the hatch. Big bait generally means big fish. But if they are keyed into small baits, such as glass minnows or bay shrimp, cast something comparable.

Above all, remember that our resident snook population suffered a severe winter. Keeping one for a fresh dinner is great, but filling the freezer is not acceptable.

- Capt. Brent Gaskill charters the Summer Vacation out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 343-1765 or by e-mail at gaskill@tampabay.rr.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright