Tampa Bay and Mother Nature were showing off Saturday morning. Captain Steven's scheduled charter was postponed so as I often do I used the day to explore new locations and test some old ones. Watching the amazing sunrise was well worth the early wake up call.
Tampa Bay's eastern shoreline is home to outstanding snook action so I made the 15 mile run NE to the Apollo Beach area with plans to work the south shoreline back to the Skyway Bridge area. Little Cockroach, Little Manatee River, Port Manatee and Bishops Harbor would be the areas I target.
First I had to load up with snook candy aka white baits. The flats adjacent to the Skyway Bridge are holding plenty of scaled sardines.
It was work but I did landed 5 snook over 3 hours and 5 stops. It was good to see snook active, 2 were small with 3 in the mid 20"s range. The snook are there the key is to keep moving till you locate them. Chum until your baits get popped, if there are no takers for freebie baits move on.
The afternoon I shared the boat with a very special guest my wife Jackie. We made the short run to my trout spot and Jackie absolutely hammered the trout. Each cast was slammed by 14-16" trout with mackerel mixed in. We were free lining white baits to the hungry trout which was the same rig I used for snook earlier. After catching 20-30 trout Jackie said I'm done here you take the rod. I casted a bait back into the trout and nothing! Jackie chimed do you need some help! Great another Captain!
A frequent question at www.onthemarkcharters.com is what gear rod; reel etc should I get for snook fishing. A great all around reel is a series 4000 spinning reel loaded with 15 or 20 pound braided line. I like a 7.5' rod with medium action and a fast tip. You want a rod with backbone to keep snook out of the mangroves yet flexible to cast live baits long distances. I only use fluorocarbon leaders typically 25 to 30 pound test.
Captain Steven Markovich
www.onthemarkcharters.com
