76SeaCraft18

See my previous thread. Wanted to get rid of the thumbs down. Since Im here I'll give some tips on bridge fishing for snook:
1st - Find a bridge over some water that is at least brackish
2nd - Look for a shadow line where it is possible to keep your bait suspended in the light within a foot or so of the shadow. Try different levels of the water column, sometimes they feed on the surface sometimes they are lurking in the depths.
3rd - KEEP YOURSELF OUT OF THE LIGHT!! Snook are smart if they see any unnatural movement, they will not feed
4th - Water flow helps but its not a must. We caught those fish last night at dead tide.
Bait: Large shrimp, pin fish, finger mullet and if you can find them, needle fish(IMO best choice)
Tackle - Atleast 60#, these fish are strong and know all the pilings and thats the first thing they head for. 90% of giant snook (40"+)in this area are caught around bridges. I think they are residents and therefore know every inch of their territory; they cut you off almost every time.
Have Fun, Richard

foamcutter

They are in the canals in the Cape as well now. I've been getting them at dead low tide on green and white bucktails in the canals around the Midpoint bridge. A lot of motiion but not much speed on the retrive. Tight lines.

76SeaCraft18

slots or biguns? waters still warm so migrations been a little late this year. wish we could still fish the rose garden bridges without gettin run off. a couple of idiots ruined for everyone. did ya notice an improvment in the water quality in your canals ala no lake discharge and lack of rain run off? maybe sfwm will finally take notice and take action

foamcutter

Slots and shorts in my canal but I'm on a very shallow dead end by the midpoint. Once I get to the Rubacon the bigger fish start to show especially from the Delprado bridge to the river in the Snook lights during the 2-5 AM period. My canal has been mostly Salt all year and the mussels are growing on the bottom of the boat like crazy (had to pull and repaint twice since Jan and I'm due again. Trinidad isn't doing it). Loads of Mullet, schools of Jacks, Snook and some exotics I can't identify but no Blueclaws this year and not as many Catfish as in the past.
WE got some big fish this past week just drifting ladyfish fillets under the bridge. Had to pull the anchor as soon as they hit and drift through the bridge to keep them away from the concrete. We were just playing around trying to pick up a Tarpon or Shark and the Snook showed up. Lost the first two and got the next three all much too big to keep. 9500 penn with 30 mono, 80 lb mono leader, 8/0 92677 and either no weight or a rubbercore to keep it under the surface after the tide really started to move. Shallow water on the Cape side 1\4-1\2 mile from the ramp. It was a lot of fun and had it to ourselves. Tight lines Don

76SeaCraft18

I've never fished under the midpoint but have had great luck under the cape coral useing the same technique. Get a 50' length of rope, a cheap anchor large enough to hold your boat and a cheap boat fender. Tie the anchor on one end and the fender on the other. I use this system when fishing the bridges. When you get a run just untie and throw the fender in and retrieve after you land your catch. Beats the heck out of trying to pull the anchor in a hurry. The exotic is probably a Mayan Chiclid. They will hit small bass poppers , not bad on the table . I've heard the crabs like it a little brackish , not much rain this year , probably why they're scarce. Don't know about the bottom paint, mines on a trailer. Bet theres some good advice on this site though. Gonna try to get out to Boca Grande pass for some pompano Monday. I'll P.M. ya if I do. Maybe we can hook up. See ya, Richard

Possum

Great information guys. I am hoping to be headed down to FL in the early spring, so I'll be keeping an eye on the information y'all are posting up.

Spread the word down there in FL too. You guys have ton of information, and the great thing about the internet is that it doesn't matter where the site is, as everyone has the same access to the information. I would personally look very forward to more Floridian members here.

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76SeaCraft18

I've sent the link to all my buddies. Suprized they havn't joined, maybe its because they're all a bunch of dumb crackers that don't know how to type... lol. Seriously though they do need to join . It's a great site. I would think that alot of x- yankees that have migrated down here would be interested also see ya

Possum

Well, I a confederate by birth and bloodline...born in Jefferson Parish, LA. Bring'em on board, and let's juice up the winter Northern months with some southern fishing reports, 'cuz with the WGOM Cod closure, there ain't much for us to fish for until April 1.

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