Tampa Bay Snook Fishing
Topic:
Weekend of the Snook
With the arrival of winter and the cooler temperatures here in the Tampa Bay area, my wife and I loaded up the truck with our kayaks, guide books, maps, and fishing gear. We were not sure where we were going to end up and just headed further south to find warmer and calmer waters for a weekend paddle with some sightseeing, and fishing. We ended up at the visitor center in Everglades City, and then went on to Chokoloskee where we purchased a local kayak guidebook. We also talked to a local guide and got some advice on the area.
After reading our new book, we picked a local creek and by 1 pm we were in the water heading out on a very low tide. We headed down a very small creek that wound through grasslands and mangroves—past several gators on the muddy banks and an American crocodile who was watching us as we paddled by. The scenery of the Everglades was full of exotic birds including two bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, osprey, heron, and my favorites, the wood storks. We were paddling through some of the most scenic and remote areas Florida has to offer without anybody else to distract us from the natural surroundings. The wind was blowing, the water was very low and muddy and I had little hope of getting any fishing in, but I was still content just to get out and enjoy the beauty of the area and the fun of a weekend off work. After paddling for an hour deeper into the swamp I noticed the leaves and mangrove pods floating on top of the water were now moving pretty rapidly signaling a tide change. I decided to rig up one rod with a ¼ oz jig head by DOA and put a C.A.L. jig on.
The canal was narrow and covered by mangroves so casting required a low sidearm approach to cast up current under the overhanging flora. On the third cast the water boiled and my line began screaming out while my rod bent. I had not had much hope of actually hooking up in unfamiliar surroundings and in this muddy creek. I fought the first snook for at least ten minutes, keeping it and me out of the bushes. It was my biggest snook of the season so far. After last winter’s snook kill in Tampa Bay, I had chosen not to target the linesiders this year. Getting the first 30 incher to the side of the kayak was so awesome; I couldn’t wait for my next cast. The tide was filling the creek fast and I knew my time to fish was limited. On the next cast another snook….and another….. man, the bite was on. We landed 30 snook all between 14 and 33 inches in one and a half hours. This creek was full of hungry snook. I changed jig colors four times—golden bream, Arkansas glow, white, and chartreuse….the last being the most productive. The best spot yielded 14 snook in 20 casts while standing on a sandbar in the middle of the creek and working the small channels on either side.
When I turned around, the sandbar was covered with the incoming tide. We got back in the kayaks to paddle further up the creek against the tide and through a mangrove tunnel to another openi
ng that was like a small pond. We
found the channel and flipped more C.A.L. jigs. The action
was immediate and we caught several more snook all
between 20 and 30 inches. This place was a snook haven.
We finally paddled closer to the creek entrance on Florida
Bay where the water was saltier and we caught several
lady fish and even a redfish. We also had several juvenile
tarpon on, which all got off after several exciting jumps.
By now the tide was at full high and the fish were out of
the creek and way up in the mangroves and grasslands
of the Everglades. As fast as the bite had turned on, it now
turned off. It was time to float for a while in a sunny spot,
eat some lunch, and reflect on the best day of snook fishing
from the kayaks this year. Late afternoon came and it
was time to paddle the three miles back to the launch
and the safety of our car before the gators and crocs got
up from their afternoon naps. We arrived back at the
parking lot just in time to beat the no-see-ums and the
upcoming sunset.
We sure do love living in Florida and taking our weekend trips to new and different destinations. When you’re on your next adventure make sure you read your guidebooks and talk to the park rangers and guides. Be prepared-take your bug spray, water, compass, life jacket, and other safety gear needed. I also like to bring a headlamp, flare gun, cell phone, and maps. If gators are present, don’t worry, if you leave them alone and they’ll leave you alone. Take only pictures, leave only footprints, or better yet kayak tracks only. Be safe out there.
Barry Grady owns and operates Big Bear Kayak Fishing. Contact him at 727-742-3202 or bigbearkayakfishing@ yahoo.com. He also works for Gulf to Bay Bait and Tackle on St Pete Beach, owned by Joey Foronda (727-367-4756).
With the arrival of winter and the cooler temperatures here in the Tampa Bay area, my wife and I loaded up the truck with our kayaks, guide books, maps, and fishing gear. We were not sure where we were going to end up and just headed further south to find warmer and calmer waters for a weekend paddle with some sightseeing, and fishing. We ended up at the visitor center in Everglades City, and then went on to Chokoloskee where we purchased a local kayak guidebook. We also talked to a local guide and got some advice on the area.
After reading our new book, we picked a local creek and by 1 pm we were in the water heading out on a very low tide. We headed down a very small creek that wound through grasslands and mangroves—past several gators on the muddy banks and an American crocodile who was watching us as we paddled by. The scenery of the Everglades was full of exotic birds including two bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, osprey, heron, and my favorites, the wood storks. We were paddling through some of the most scenic and remote areas Florida has to offer without anybody else to distract us from the natural surroundings. The wind was blowing, the water was very low and muddy and I had little hope of getting any fishing in, but I was still content just to get out and enjoy the beauty of the area and the fun of a weekend off work. After paddling for an hour deeper into the swamp I noticed the leaves and mangrove pods floating on top of the water were now moving pretty rapidly signaling a tide change. I decided to rig up one rod with a ¼ oz jig head by DOA and put a C.A.L. jig on.
The canal was narrow and covered by mangroves so casting required a low sidearm approach to cast up current under the overhanging flora. On the third cast the water boiled and my line began screaming out while my rod bent. I had not had much hope of actually hooking up in unfamiliar surroundings and in this muddy creek. I fought the first snook for at least ten minutes, keeping it and me out of the bushes. It was my biggest snook of the season so far. After last winter’s snook kill in Tampa Bay, I had chosen not to target the linesiders this year. Getting the first 30 incher to the side of the kayak was so awesome; I couldn’t wait for my next cast. The tide was filling the creek fast and I knew my time to fish was limited. On the next cast another snook….and another….. man, the bite was on. We landed 30 snook all between 14 and 33 inches in one and a half hours. This creek was full of hungry snook. I changed jig colors four times—golden bream, Arkansas glow, white, and chartreuse….the last being the most productive. The best spot yielded 14 snook in 20 casts while standing on a sandbar in the middle of the creek and working the small channels on either side.
When I turned around, the sandbar was covered with the incoming tide. We got back in the kayaks to paddle further up the creek against the tide and through a mangrove tunnel to another openi
ng that was like a small pond. We
found the channel and flipped more C.A.L. jigs. The action
was immediate and we caught several more snook all
between 20 and 30 inches. This place was a snook haven.
We finally paddled closer to the creek entrance on Florida
Bay where the water was saltier and we caught several
lady fish and even a redfish. We also had several juvenile
tarpon on, which all got off after several exciting jumps.
By now the tide was at full high and the fish were out of
the creek and way up in the mangroves and grasslands
of the Everglades. As fast as the bite had turned on, it now
turned off. It was time to float for a while in a sunny spot,
eat some lunch, and reflect on the best day of snook fishing
from the kayaks this year. Late afternoon came and it
was time to paddle the three miles back to the launch
and the safety of our car before the gators and crocs got
up from their afternoon naps. We arrived back at the
parking lot just in time to beat the no-see-ums and the
upcoming sunset.We sure do love living in Florida and taking our weekend trips to new and different destinations. When you’re on your next adventure make sure you read your guidebooks and talk to the park rangers and guides. Be prepared-take your bug spray, water, compass, life jacket, and other safety gear needed. I also like to bring a headlamp, flare gun, cell phone, and maps. If gators are present, don’t worry, if you leave them alone and they’ll leave you alone. Take only pictures, leave only footprints, or better yet kayak tracks only. Be safe out there.
Barry Grady owns and operates Big Bear Kayak Fishing. Contact him at 727-742-3202 or bigbearkayakfishing@ yahoo.com. He also works for Gulf to Bay Bait and Tackle on St Pete Beach, owned by Joey Foronda (727-367-4756).
