Dock Lighting for Snook

With Captain Daniel Andrews

3rd installment of The Sanibel Island Diaries

Part 1 – Norm’s Crystal Schminnow

Part 2 – Double Haul

Forbes Magazine rated Florida as the top Fly Fishing destination in the United States, as you read this blog and sip your coffee you will quickly understand why this is not an exaggeration!

 

Brenton Fishing 'Merica
Brenton Fishing ‘Merica

Following the lessons with Joe Mahler and watching Snook cruise the beach everyday, we were rightfully anxious to hook into one. The Gulf remained choppy throughout our entire trip making it near impossible to sight fish for the monsters.

Fighting fish in the backwater.
Fighting fish in the backwater.

Both Norm Zeigler and Joe Mahler recommended we go out with Captain Daniel Andrews; he is a young guide, ready to help you work the water to produce Sea Trout and Snook.  According to Captain Andrews, there are several highly productive means to catch fish on the Fly Rod in Florida. Dock light fishing is the most productive Fly Fishing experience you will discover in Florida. Waterside illumination is a bait attractors and predators like the Snook seek out the bait.

Brenton with a Lady Fish, treating her right.
Brenton with a Lady Fish, treating her right.

We met Captain Andrews at 3PM on the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp for an evening of Rippin’ Lips, he advised us first we would hit the backwaters for Sea Trout, at dusk the plan was to move over to a good dock light with a plethora of bait. To add adventure to the trip, there were thunderstorms off in the distance. We would need to avoid them if they started to head towards us. (In Florida, it seems, there are always thunderclouds in the distance.)

Jourdan's first Sea Trout.
Jourdan’s first Sea Trout.

Captain Andrews made it a quick ride into the backwaters, taking us out to some Mangrove islands to cast. Saltwater fishing is a whole new Fly Fishing experience; there is an incredible amount of wildlife seeking fish(food) while you are out there. At certain points Osprey, Pelicans, Cormorants and Dolphins surrounded us all looking for their next meal. As we casted out the Schminnow hundreds of greedy eyes looked on with jealousy.

The First Snook
The First Snook

The afternoon started out very slow, we all discovered that saltwater fishing is very tide dependent. You can either wait for the tide to change or head out in search of fish. The seach will require a lot of casting. We did a bit of both; Captain Andrews took us around, in the boat, seeking hungry fish. Brenton, Jourdan and I hooked into Ladyfish, Sea Trout and Mackerel, all the while, out running ominous thunderclouds. The afternoon was progressing nicely, that is until the Dolphins surfaced. The presence of top-level predators does wonders to make fish hide. Anyway, it was about dusk and the slowdown was an excuse to seek out a perfect dock light.

Chris' first Sea Trout on the fly.
Chris’ first Sea Trout on the fly.

Not all dock lights are created equal, if you want to catch fish by the light; it pays to go out with a guide. Captain Andrews anchored us, in a heavy current as a result of the tide, placing Brenton and I within casting range of our target.

Measuring a Snook.
Measuring a Snook.

Captain Andrews advised us that we could cast but waiting until the moment the sun went down would be more productive. Right on queue, the sun disappeared over the Gulf and the fish went nuts. The shrimp were literally jumping out of the water to get away from the predators all around them. Everywhere you heard the tell tale pop of Snook eating juicy shrimp.

Chris' 20+ inch Sea Trout.
Chris’ 20+ inch Sea Trout.

Brenton was up first on the casting platform, he double hauled his Schminnow out at the head of the dock structure. As instructed, he then pointed the road down towards the current direction and stripped line in one-foot increments. Pointing the rod down the current prevents the Schminnow from experiencing drag. Drag, of course, tips the fish off to the fakeness of your bait. A few strips and Brenton had a Sea Trout; quickly, he threw the Schminnow back out there and Snook on!

Chris' first Snook on the fly.
Chris’ first Snook on the fly.

After that first Snook, we did not have a break until we left around 11PM. Cast after cast; a beauty was hauled out of the water. A short cast yielded Sea Trout; a perfect cast would haul out a Snook. On the far side of our boat, the Dolphins were frolicking.

Chris' last Snook of the night.
Chris’ last Snook of the night.

Unfortunately, the next afternoon we all had planes to catch…until the fall Sanibel Island.

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