Fish Tales
Snook are back on the menu
By CAPT. TYSON WALLERSTEIN
Article published on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007  |
The fall snook season opened over the holiday weekend and many anglers were out searching for a healthy linesider for the grill. Anglers should note the changed slot limit on snook: According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the reduced size limit on snook is now 28 to 33 inches with a pinched tail, with a bag limit of one fish per person per day.
Pinching the fish’s tail requires anglers to measure the fish at its absolute maximum length. After what was an incredible catch-and-release off-season for snook, it’s hard to argue with the way the snook fishery has been managed.
The majority of anglers pursuing snook wait until the sun has set before embarking on their day of fishing. Typical hot spots like John’s Pass and Pass-A-Grille more closely resembled the Gasparilla boat parade than a relaxing night out on the water.
Maybe this is the reason for the accusations that snook somehow know when the season opens and get a bad case of lock jaw. Who knows, but my advice to you would be to spread out. There are plenty of places to catch a snook in this county.
Many of the fish have actually moved out of the passes and begun their trek inland. Those deepwater docklights off the beaten path can often hold their fair share of keeper-sized snook as we head into the fall months.
Also, freshwater creeks and bayous should get hot after those afternoon rains subside. Finger mullet are thick in these areas right now so suspending twitch baits like a MirrOLure Catch 2000 or a Bomber Long A should produce around those backwater bridges.
Beach snook remain a viable option. Early morning sight casters can walk the beach looking for snook cruising the shallows. Though their numbers have thinned out, some anglers should still expect to encounter a decent amount of fish around St. Pete Beach southward through Fort DeSoto.
Until next week – GET BENT!
Tyson Wallerstein can be reached at capt.tyson@hotmail.com. If you have a fish picture you would like to see published in the newspaper, send it with your name and where it was caught, to: “Fish Tales,” Tampa Bay Newspapers, 9911 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772, or e-mail it to editorial@TBNweekly.com.
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Article published on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007
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