After slaughtering the Mogan Racing Mullet the day before. I had to go back the next day and see what would happen.
A good friend recently returned from Alaska and he was going stir crazy after seeing all of the huge Snook we got over the summer. He emailed me late Friday and was more than ecstatic when I mentioned I would be open for the next afternoon. His girlfriend Jennifer purchased a Cape Fear 10-17lb rod for him while he was in Alaska so he couldn't wait to use it. Boy did he get to use more than he expected. We put 30 or so Ladyfish in the boat for the Gigantic Linesiders dinner. For three or four days in a row the Lady's were schoolin in the thousands on the outgoing tide on a large flat. Just like clockwork they were there again that day.
Jason and I rolled up to the Mogan Mansion and there was someone already in our spot. We took it in stride and moved on the inside of the other boat, a little closer to shore than usual. I was rooting for Jason to have a big day. I knew the fish were there and the tide was right. Bait was stocked up and all we had to do was win the war after the bait gets inhaled. Tough thing to do though, which I proved the first 4 fish I hooked up on. I have never been busted off as many times as I did this day. Every Snook seemed to have my number, it was break off after hook pull, after break off. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Enough about me and my problems! Jason missed his first two Snook because he did not follow instructions but on the third one he had it down pat. Jason tossed the foot and a half long lady into the hole and Slam!! Fish On!! Jason sunk his rod tip into the water and pumped as hard as he could. When all was said and done he had this nice 14 pounder to show for all of his effort.
As the sun began to set, the Big Gurls came out for dinner. First it was my turn. Jason had already put a large 14 pound Racing Mullet in the memory bank of the Kodak camera so now it was my turn. I grabbed one of the largest Lady's in the well and pitched it to the hole. In less than 2 minutes she was inhaled by a monstrous snook. I let the Snook pull my rod tip down and them slammed the 6/0 black chrome Eagle Claw live bait hook into her jaw. She did not like it one bit and attempted to bulldoze me into the cover. I then put maximum pressure on her and the Cape Fear bent double while the Fins Braid held strong in the lock down position on the reel. Until you have a chance to feel the full power of a huge snook pulling with all of its might on the end of your locked down drag reel and double bent rod, oh what a rush! Once I turned her away from the cover she came a sailing out of the water with gills flaring. She wanted nothing to do with the hook and line in her jaw. Eventually she wore out. We landed her with the Boga and she went a very healthy 19lbs.
Next I went on a binge. It seemed as if every bait I tossed up there was marked for dinner. It felt like I was a chef serving at the Buffet Line. The next four fish I caught were 15.5, 16, 17.5, and 15. I even think one of the 15 pounders had me believing she was the biggest of the day. Everyone of those snook did a great leaping act once they cleared the cover. For those 15 minutes I had one of the best Snook times in my life.
Once those Snook wore me out Jason decided to get in on the action. He tossed his Snook filet mignon(ladyfish) to the hole and sure enough Slam!! Fish On!! After playing tug of war with the heavy linesider Jason was finally able to subdue her long enough so I could get her with the boga. She was a very stout eleven pounds. Jason was as happy as he could be. Until that day he has never caught more than one snook over 10 pounds in one day in his entire snook fishing career.
All to soon the bite began to slow. I decided we would try the inside and see if anything wanted to eat. Jason tossed his bait in first and Wham!! Racing Mullet On!! Jason put the torque to that Snook and she turned away from the pilings.
While Jason was directing his fish to the boat I felt a jolt on the other end of my line. The line started taking off so I set the hook. A huge splash ensued and we had a double. My fish was thrashing on top of the water and I knew if I let her get her head back in the water she would have a chance to break me off. The stiffness of the Cape Fear backbone really gives me the confidence to put major pressure on a fish to direct it where I want it. Soon the extra large Linesider tired herself out and Jason Boga gripped her. She went an astoundingly heavy 18lbs. Who would have thought we would hook up on a double in that cover and land both fish at nearly the same time? What a Night!! This may sound hard to believe but it still was not over yet.
We were down to two live baits left in the well. I gave Jason the honors and he chose the Ladyfish over the 16 inch trout. We both baited up and chose our target. Jason made the better choice because within a minute or so he had a huge one on. Jason laid the wood to her and she slapped him right back. She freight trained him into the pilings and busted him off with the 80lb braid. I have to admit I have been stingy with one of my Cape Fears and until this day I had yet to let anyone use it but me. However, I swallowed my shallowness and handed over the keys to Jason. He put a nice stiff Lady on for Snook desert. He tossed her into the same spot where he was just broken off. A few momments later Mogan On!! Jason bared down and set hook. The fat linesider made a dash for the pilings and Jason put some Cape Fear pressure on her. She turned quickly. He could not believe the power of the rod. Not long after he turned the fish's head she came to the surface. When a snook comes to the surface all you have to do is keep her head up and she will wear herself out on top of the water. When I weighed her on the Boga she went a hefty 14 pounds. Not a bad way to end the evening, if I do say so myself.
To conclude, it was my personal best Snook week ever. The sheer numbers of large snook was phenomenal. I couldn't wait to fish for them everyday. The big females are hungry and mean. Can't wait for the next chance to wrestle with one. Tides are good this upcoming week so I am looking forward to some high quality fishing. If you are urning for some rod busting leader fraying excitement then give Captain
Chancey a call @ (239)540-7529
Until next time may you have line singing, leader fraying, and
drag screaming action!!!
