boca here I come

[joebob14]

Ok so I grew up fishing in the Venice area and now Im up on Tampa bay. I have only been to boca grande once before and although I saw some of the biggest snook in my life I just couldnt get them to hit anything. I tried all my lures, pinfish, greenbacks, you name it I threw it. I caght plenty of smaller fish but it kills me to look right at the big boys and cant touch them. Any tips to help me bring in the big one would be great.

 

[capt sam]

Re: boca here I come

match the hatch, the big snook are deeper and eat much bigger bait, we use ladyfish or the biggest white bait you can get on a knocker rig.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: boca here I come

Hey capt sam, how are you? Haven't heard from you in a long time on this sight.

joebob14:
capt sam put me onto a guide down in the Sannibel-Ft. Myers area I had a blast the 2nd week of May with six fish, biggest being 125 lbs. Not as crowded as Boca. We had live bait. I recommend 1/2 day trip early morning. Seems that after 10 AM with the sun up and hot & humid the fish disappeared. I think that I still have the guides card,if so I will post it for you

 

[sasto]

Re: boca here I come

I find the big 'uns like a mullet head (not Billy Ray Cyrus) sitting on the bottom sometimes. They feed around here on shrimp, especially at night around the lights.

 

[capt sam]

Re: boca here I come

You can use anything including catfish just put some weight on it and get it deep, past the smaller snook. I'm talking the 20lb+ snook not the slot fish.

Hey Fly Rod, fishing Sanibel last week, caught some really nice redfish and trout, it'll be tarpon season again shortly.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: boca here I come

If you're sight fishing these fish around the Mangroves just remember, if you can see the fish... they can see you too! The big ones didn't big by being stupid. Stay low in the boat when casting and retrieving. You may also want to try jumbo size live shrimp if you can find them, hard for any Snook to refuse a huge live shrimp!