mangrove snook

Jean caught this mangrove snook on a Super Spook Jr. shortly after sunrise. We were fishing between Fort Pierce and Vero Beach in one of my favorite haunts.

Not much has changed since my last report. The water is still low, warm and baitfish abound.

My pattern through the rest of the summer is starting as early as I can convince clients to go and this means launching in the dark then returning to the ramp by 0900!

In a perfect world we’d have the second half of the incoming tide to fish and we’d be tossing topwater walking plugs along the mangroves. In this perfect scenario the snook, trout, tarpon, jacks and maybe a redfish or two would be blasting the finger mullet swimming just outside of the tree line.

Once the sun got bright and the mullet move to deeper water, we would follow and offer those same critters four and five inch Z-Man Diezel Minnowz or Jerk Shadz.

The folks who insist on sleeping in will likely be fishing natural bait on structure in deeper areas, including along the channel edges. When possible, I’ll net live mullet, pinfish, pilchards or greenies. When this becomes difficult the frozen baits will come into play. Many people are surprised at what will eat a peeled shrimp or chunk of mullet!