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Updated 08/09/10
Snook Season
Opening Postponed
The scheduled reopening of snook season September 1 has
been postponed until at least September 16. The Florida Fish &
Wildlife Commission will hear from staff biologists about the
freeze and huge snook kill this winter and then make the final
call. In all likelihood snook season will not open at all until
at least next year. |
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From the information I can gather, east coast snook did a little
better than our west coast snook. The mortality rate on the east coast
snook was estimated at 25 percent and over 30 percent on the west coast.
Shallow water snook got hit really hard with Sarasota Bay and the
Everglades taking an even worse hit than we did. Keeping the season
closed for a while longer I think is a good thing. As one of the premier
gamefish in south Florida, snook are so much more valuable than just
filets. If I never ate another snook I would not be upset.
Most fellow snook anglers and charter boat captains I speak with about
the continued closure agree that it's a good thing. Let's at least give
it until next spring and make sure we don't have another major freeze
this winter is the general sentiment. When catching and releasing snook
be extra careful to release them unharmed and try not to remove them
from the water whenever possible. The cost of a snook stamp also
increased in July from $2 to $10 which is still a bargin as long as the
money is spent on snook research. Hopefully this increase in revenue is
not the deciding factor in the FFWC opening snook season.
What an outstanding week on the water it's been. Huge morning high tides
where the perfect set-up for catching redfish under the bushes and on
oyster bars. Catch-and-release snook fishing in and around the passes
was very consistent with lots and lots of schoolie size snook caught,
along with a few over the 30-inch mark. While drifting the passes for
snook we also caught good numbers of seatrout.
Pass fishing remained the best bite in town with the fast moving water
either incoming or outgoing being the key to getting in on the good
action on a variety of species.
Running between the passes this week I also came across quite a few
tripletail both gulfside and in the bay. Channel markers, crab pots and
no-wake buoys were all worth checking out. Tripletail fishing in the hot
summer water is usually not good but for some reason there have been a
lot more than usual. These tasty fish can often been seen laid up on the
surface next to about any kind of structure.
On one trip this week we caught five tripletail up to eight pounds and
spooked one that was close to the 20-pound mark. I also had a report
this week from a fellow angler who caught an 18-pound 29-inch tripletail
off a no-wake buoy on the outside of Captiva. Regulations on tripletail
are 15 inches minimum and you are allowed two per person per day.
Our summertime fishing continues to be on fire. Without a doubt this is
my favorite time of year to fish. What makes it even better is the lack
of angling pressure out there. Several times this week I had a whole
pass all to myself. Summer fishing will only get better too with
September being my favorite month of the year out on the water.
If you want to get out and bend a rod on some quality fish, now is the
time.
Click the links below to view copies of my other recent reports.
07-21-2010
- 07-26-2010
- 08-02-2010
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