Need some saltwater help

[scn]

It looks like the family vacation is going to be on Sanibel Island this spring/summer. I've never fished that far south in the Gulf. Supposedly there are a lot of snook right on the beach at that time of year. I'm looking forward to fly fishing for them if the wind will cooperate. I think I have (or will have after I tie) what I need for that.

However, my son will be fishing with me. He has indicated some interest in the fly part, and we'll certainly let him give it a try. But, for a ready Plan B for him (and I), I'd like some suggestions for lures, bait, techniques that will get a spinning rod string stretched down there in the late spring/early summer time frame. While I would love to see him catch a snook, anything that pulls will be fun for us.

I'm sure the majority of our fishing will either be on the beach/surf, or off the bank around one of the passes. As well, we likely can/will go on the backside of the island and fish in the bay.

Thanks for any help and advice!

 

[Aquaholic]

I fished for them years ago around Daytona Beach.....used basic bass equipment , spinner baits, flukes, some shad type crank baits. I have caught them on Zara Spooks also

 

[RF270]

Gulp shrimp nickel color, on 1/4 jighead. Wal-Mart, Bass Pro if you go that far inland or Richard's Sporting Goods will have the best prices on them down there.

 

[fishboy1]

If you have a cast net, net some manhaden minnows and drift them through the passes.
A much overlooked fishing spot is seawalls/docks. I was jigging a 1/2 oz yellow bucktail jig along a seawall and got several hits. Hooked the first one but drag was too tight and lost it on the first run/jump. After missing a couple more I noticed that my hook was bent practically straight. Doh!

The nickel color shrimp, a green back with silver sparkle shad, or a smoked rootbeer color on a 1/8-1/2 oz jig head (depends on current) are a go - to.

Don't over look a jig n shad in bigger sizes. We were shooting a golf catalog on the west coast when the greens keeper walked by with a snook that must have weighed 15-20 lb. Caught it with a 20# class bass rig spooled with 30# braid. He was pitching a white curly tailed jig that was at an easy 6" long.
Next morning he had a bigger one and had a big paddle tail shad jig with a yellow back/white belly. All caught in a tidal canal that came off the bay through the golf course. It was lined with mangroves so how he ever horsed it out of the roots Ill never know.

Have fun and post pix!
Oh don't forget that late spring early summer is Pompano season in the surf!

 

[woodyard]

Scn there used to be a public pier on Sanibel that had some deeper water right close to it. It was a good spot to fish because of the currents. It has been a long time since I was there ,but I went to the pier nearly every day when I was there. It had a colorful bunch of locals there every day.

Oh yea , i remember seeing a kid with a cast net catch a "big to me" snook on the beach as it was after the baitfish. Also saw the biggest shark i ever seen caught on a beach down there. Took the guy over an hour to get him in.

 

[scn]

Thanks all! Keep them coming!

 

[Main Beam]

Use live bait, pinfish or finger mullet. I don't know if there's a spring run of mullet that far north but if there is use a small castnet if you can throw one, if not pinfish can be caught on grass flats with hook and line and a tidbit of shrimp. Incoming outgoing tide don't be afraid to make a friend at local bait shop or 2 localized information helps alto, its surprising how much information folks will share if your just friendly. Bass tackle will work but if get into a fish over 36 inches or so say goodbye to it you probably wont stop it. A 7 foot rod with a reel you can spool about 300 yards of 20 lbs line is about the right size. Good luck!

 

[cmn]

look into renting a kayak and fishing in the Ding Darling refuge. Snook, specks, reds….. General streamer patterns, baitfish imitations and anything silver, gold, and chartreuse. Go by Fly South and talk to those guys. Tons of salt experience

 

[junebugwapiti]

I went in June of last year and cot a half day charter for some back bay fishing. Caught lots of catfish some snapper and one snook(28 inch). But the snook was out of season and couldn't keep it. Saw one caught from the beach that was absolutely huge. If you want the guide I used I'll look the information up when I get home if you want some info. he was as nice as could be and took the time to make sure my son who was 5 caught fish but was also entertained when he wasn't fishing. Real top notch kinda guy.

 

[Canonman]

Snook are bad about cutting through the line. When I lived in Tampa I would catch them all the time on topwater baits and DOA. I highly recommend having a 30lb+ floro leader. Even the small Snook can cut through 20lb test.

 

[go_okfishin]

At Gulf Shores. I take my spinning rods and Krocidile spoons in various sizes and colors. They will catch anything and you can throw them a long way. The gulp shrimp works good also as mentioned. I've used 12-14 lb test for years but last year starting throwing braid. just make sure you have a strong leader.

 

[Grnwing]

SCN,

Depending on the time you go it will be hit or miss with snook on the beaches. As mentioned a good 3/4oz gold spoon on a spinning rod with 12lb line with a 30lb fluorocarbon leader is a good set up. I like using Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow and throwing it under the mangroves with some deep(2-4ft) moving water. If you can, I would recommend looking for a kayak rental and allowing yourself to get out to some of the flats and beyond the beach surf. Tides are really important down there and good water flow will have a 2 tide day with about 2ft of water moving each cycle.

I ll be heading down to Everglades City in late April/May to chase snook in the back country.

 

[scn]

Thanks for all of the great info!

 

[mike243]

I always liked 15lbs test when I lived in Melbourne, a bunch of different lures work well at different times and a live shrimp will always produce, top water baits like a spook or a broken back minnow in the 4-6" range will bring on bites from just about any critter swimming n salt water . hope you all have a great trip and wished I could be there lol

 

[Diehard Hunter]

I always start with a fish finder rig with a live shrimp. There aren't many things in the ocean that won't eat a live shrimp. You can use heavy mono or wire for the leader and I would start with a 4/0 Kahle hook. Start with a 1/2 ounce egg sinker above the swivel and work your way up if the current is too strong.

 

[Rollo]

DOA shrimp, Renosky Mirro shad or Berkley soft shad for trout, reds, flounder, ect. Rapala X-Rap for snook. They say root beer colored jerk baits are good this time of year and gold spoons bounced off the sandy bottoms will pull reds as well. Anything live is always good but the above worked for me back in Dec. I used 20 lb. braid with a 10 - 12 lb mono leader, 7.5' medium fast action spinning combo. Fish it sllloooooowwwwwwww.

 

[Dbllunger]

Another good way to catch pinfish is in a trap. I bought one at academy sports last year called a pin fish trap before I went to the beach at Cape San Blas. Put a chicken drumstick in it and throw it in a sandy/grassy area and come back 30 minutes later and you should have all the bait you want. I fished them under a popping cork in St. Joseph Bay and caught all the speckled trout I wanted last year.

For basic beach fishing, I usually target whiting. They are small but fun to catch and delicious to eat. Very similar to crappie or bluegill in taste. Light tackle is good (6lb line) with small circle hooks. For bait I would use frozen squid. Smaller is better when baiting your hook. A piece of squid no bigger than your thumbnail is ideal. I use pyramid lead sinkers in the 1oz. range to keep my bait in one place on the bottom (lots of different ways to attach these with swivels). Cast into the trench just off the beach (usually no more than 15 yards) and keep your line tight and ready to set the hook.

 

[SES]

Don't think twice and rent a kayak for however long you're down there. Most places will deliver them for free to where you are staying.