Due to unforseen circumstances I was not able to get out the first three or four days of Snook Season. I have heard several first hand reports of most people striking out the first couple of days. One of our local tournament Anglers reported three keepers on the first day, which was the best I heard by far.
Now if you want to talk about Redfish they have been spotted and subsequently caught all over the Sound. I have confirmed reports of Redfish caught from the bushes, bars, piers, and grass flats. They were literaly everywhere this passed weekend. The reds have been biting great on the incoming on cut bait, white bait, and even lures/jigs. My good friend Capt Butch Botelor caught 50 plus reds with his two trips last week. My long time fishing partner Nelson Diaz managed two keeper snook this passed Saturday along with two or three keeper sized reds.
The first day I was able to get out was this Monday. Nelson and I managed to hit the water around three o'clock. We headed to San Carlos Bay and filled the well with Pinfish. We then went over to Tarpon Bay and fished the spots where he did so well over the weekend. Unfortunately for us the bite was not on, so we decided to get some threadfin on one of the markers in the bay. After 3 throws we were loaded up. Next Nelson mentioned he also did very well in Matlacha so off we went again. At Matlacha we anchored up and fished a deep cut under a bank. All in all we did fairly well, Nelson got 3 snook, 2 on live bait and one on a pearl Zoom. He also caught 3 sizable Mangrove Snapper. I was able to put one 16 inch gag grouper in the boat on a threadfin and one 6 or 7 pound Canal Tuna also. Soon the bite slowed.
Next we headed over to a sand bar near the mouth of the river looking for some snook we had seen earlier in the month. We chummed up a few boils but only managed one Jack about 6 pounds. While we were fishing the bar, birds started to flock over a school of Ladyfish. Nelson and I got out the Jig Rigs and managed 5 total Ladyfish for the Big Racing Mullet.
Finally, it was time to give the Mogan Snook a shot at the Mogan Mansion. We anchored up and tossed the Lady's up to the hole. Within 5 minutes I had a huge Snook on but blew it when my leader to line Knot pulled. I retied and put another Ladyfish on. After 10 minutes or so the Ladyfish was inhaled. I set the hook and palmed the spool of Size 12 Ahab spooled with the 80lb test Fins Braid. Next I pulled the fish away from the cover by walking towards the front of the boat. After a minute and a half fight we boated a nice 39inch 20 pound Racing Mullet. She was extremely fat, I assume she has been eating well so she can have plenty of energy when she makes her trek up the river for the winter. We were now out of Live Ladyfish except for one that was barely breathing that Nelson took off of his hook in order to fish with a 15 inch trout. I put her on and she was eaten in about 10 minutes. I palmed the spool and walked to the front of the boat again and as I got the Big Snook to the side of the boat the Lady fish pulled out of her mouth. She was estimated in the 34 inch range. We fished for 20 minutes or so longer and then decided to call it an evening.
To conclude it was great to just get out on the water. The day turned out to have perfect weather and the fishing is always good when you can land a 20 pound snook. 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!!!!
