The Tampa Bay Times
Snook have been the name of the game lately in north Pinellas County. Several groups of fish are congregating along the beaches. Smaller male fish are being very cooperative, however the large females are eating larger baits such as grunts or big sardines. Hoards of glass minnows are covering the rocky structures of the jetties and old seawalls. The snook are hanging tight to the rocks, taking gulps of the easy meals. If your bait gets near the glass minnow schools, snook will quickly decide to eat the bigger, more filling bait. I will always look for the clouds of small minnows to target the foraging predator fish. Trout are also caught in the same manner, but will spread out over the sand away from the rocks. Sometimes adding a split shot to get down in the swift tide will help to get a bite. Incoming tides have been the best around the structure. Outgoing tides have been the most productive around the points of the passes as the snook line up to eat bait falling out with the tide. Tarpon are still moving up and down the beaches, especially in the morning at low light. East winds have allowed us to spot pods of fish daisy chaining. Live grunts under a float have been getting eaten the most, however, threadfins and sardines will work too. Redfish are hit and miss. Not real consistent. Putting in time and moving from spot to spot will eventually produce a few. Higher tides along the bushes have definitely made the difference.
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