snook

This snook ate Marie’s four inch Z-Man Diezel Minnowz tossed just outside of the mangrove roots.

So ends another snook season on Florida’s Atlantic coast. If you’re not aware of this closure, I’ll remind you now; snook are catch and release starting June first and remain so through August!

It’s time for their spawn and while July and early August see most of the activity, the breeders start staging near and in the inlets by late May with June bringing more and more snook into their traditional spawning areas.

I recently took part in an upcoming TV show by running the “camera boat” for my friend Capt. Brian Pounds as he joined Mike Anderson of the Reel Animals fishing show.

The bite was sporadic throughout the day with a few fast and furious moments. Lots of snook were boated and from my vantage point they all appeared to be under-slot males, though a few may have made the minimum length.

Live pilchards are the bait of choice now and mullet will become important as their numbers continue to build through the summer. Of course other species of baitfish will often do the trick if you can find them.

Even though the spawn is on at the inlets and nearby beaches do not discount the backwater mangrove bite. Not all of these fish make the move to the open inlet. Some of the biggest females stay in the jungles and canals!

Also, there will be some tarpon activity in the backwaters, especially were silver mullet are roaming. Fingerling silvers will attract spotted seatrout, redfish, jacks and more. Keep your eyes peeled for massive mullet pods from now on through the fall season mullet run!