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Snook show in channels along beaches

By Doug Hemmer, Times correspondent
In print: Friday, May 9, 2008

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INSHORE: Schools of snook are starting to show up along the beach and swimming along the swash channel, a drop-off about 3 to 5 feet from the beach.

When you locate a school, anchor the boat about 15 feet from shore. The best bait to use along the beach is a large pinfish, as they have a light color and stay close to the bottom.

Threadfins and scaled sardines work, but they tend to head for the surface when they encounter a snook. When they do this, the birds go after the bait and spook the snook.

Cast the pinfish up current from the school and let it drift naturally through the snook. You can use light tackle to catch and release snook caught near the beach. Rig the rod with 8- to 12-pound line and a 30-pound leader. A 2/0 circle hook allows for an easy release.

The redfish schools in lower Tampa Bay are not as large as weeks past. Most of the schools now hold 50 to 100 fish instead of 300 or more. More times than not, the large schools will return soon.

Tarpon are rolling around the bridges in Tampa Bay. Work the pilings with a free-lined threadfin or pinfish.

During the past week, pinfish were outproducing threadfins.

Cast up current of the piling where the tarpon is rolling. Let the bait swim deep and drift past the bottom of the piling. When the bait returns to the surface at the backside of the piling, recast and repeat the technique, if necessary.

OFFSHORE: There are still good numbers of grouper in the 60-foot zone. The larger fish are farther out. A live pinfish is the preferred bait.

Mangrove snapper are hanging over ledges in 80 to 90 feet of water. A live whitebait on 20-pound tackle will draw the most strikes.

Blackfin tuna are showing up around the wrecks about 120 feet deep. Chum heavy to get the tuna close to the boat.

There are good numbers of mackerel around the artificial reefs. Try the reefs in 40 feet of water and work farther offshore. Birds working the surface aid in locating a school.

Most mackerel are being caught by trolling small gold spoons.

Using monofilament instead of wire produces more strikes. Bring extra spoons as the mackerel usually take a few with their razor-sharp teeth.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.