Snook season is here and Florida captains are ready

The bite is hot, and this week’s theme is simple: Snook!

It’s snook season in Florida! Here is what to do.

Captain Mike Vickers (hammockbaitandtackle.com) started this week’s report with an important reminder.

“Snook season is open (this week) so let’s make sure our licenses are up to date,” he said. “When you catch these excellent game fish, catch the low light times of the day, look for shadow lines and structure.

“Keep the size group in mind… if you find shorts, keep hunting. Very large fish will be solitaries, claim an area and defend it aggressively.”

Vickers also gave this advice to future red bulls and alligator trout.

“Reds are more or less grouped by size and more social, so find big fish and you will more than likely catch several,” he said. “The last fish on this week’s watch is alligator trout – they’re staged to start in the river system with a few cooler days, and that should be the game. Look for these fish east of the Matanzas Bridge and in waves and jetties. “

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Sheep’s head found in the piers of Volusia-Flagler

Vickers said the Flagler Pier reported large trout, drummers, whiting, sheep heads, plaice, bruises and catfish.

“Surfing at Flagler produces whiting, catfish, flounder, red trout, some pompanos and sharks,” he added.

Captain Roy Mattson said he saw mostly undersized whiting and pompanos along the beaches, while local jetties catch sheep heads and more whiting.

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African pompano, snook at Ponce Inlet

Captain Fred Robert continues to see lots of redfish in Ponce Inlet, as well as a ton of snooks, trevally and mangrove snapper.

“We’ve caught over 25 this week,” he said of his loot.

Local fisherman John Tracy also sent a photo of a large 29-pound African pompano caught in the creek.

Snapper in the Tomoka River

Captain Barry Englehardt reported a sheep’s head, snapper and snook in the Tomoka River.

Big snappers and trout around Matanzas Inlet

Finally, Vickers offered this report from Palm Coast.

“Matanzas Inlet and Bridge are still the best in the show for solid to over-split reds,” he said. “A big mangrove snapper and a bigger trout from the bridge east to the mouth of the creek. Whiting, tarpon, plaice, a few pompanos and sharks complete the Matanzas region.”

Vickers said the river at Flagler hasn’t changed much over the past two weeks with a mix of reds, drums, trout, snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, jacks, whiting, plaice and sharks.

Photos of Volusia-Flagler fish

We want to see your most recent take. Email your fish photos to [email protected]. Make sure to include the type of fish, the size of the fish (weight and / or length), where the fish was caught, the first and last name and hometown of the fisherman who caught the fish, as well as the first and last name of the person who took the photo. If a child is in the photo, please indicate their age. The News-Journal will use one or two photos printed each week and the remaining photos submitted will go to the online gallery called “Volusia-Flagler Catch of the Week”.