jacks and baitfish of every descrip- tion. Even larger animals like mana- tees and alligators couldn’t escape the frigid conditions.
“Normally the smaller fish fare OK because they get in the deeper pockets where the temperature is warmer,” Miller explained. “But with the water blown out and staying cold for so long, those fish never had a chance to recov- er. It was the worst fish kill in my life- time, and I’m 69 years old.” In response, the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission has closed the Gulf snook season until at least this fall (2011), allowing catch and release only. Miller believes the fishery will recover.
“In my estimation, it’s going to take
three to four years for the snook to real- ly come back. And nobody can sugar- coat that,” he said. “But there are a lot of quirks of nature here in the back- country. It’s a cycle of life that’s been going on longer than any of us have been around.” To emphasize his point, Miller posi- tioned the boat at the juncture of two
38
“These little guys are the future and it’s good to see they survived.”
creeks and picked up his baitcasting rod. It was rigged with a Sure Thing jig, a lure Miller developed in the mid-’70s. Bouncing the 3/8-ounce jig with the smoky shrimp tail off the bottom, he proceeded to catch numerous juvenile snook and redfish. Hall and I added to the tally with several of our own. “These little guys are the future and it’s good to see they survived,” Miller explained as he released another spunky 20-inch linesider. “Back in 1995 we had several tropical storms through here, dumping a bunch of rain. All that fresh water produced tons of bait and by 1996 and ’97, the snook fishing was the best ever as all those fish grew in size. Now we’re starting another cycle. These fish will come back, given time.”
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HURRICANE ANDREW
Snook migrate into the ’Glades in the late fall looking for fresh water, Miller says. The rivers and brackish creeks allow them to purge their sys- tems of an overbalance of salt after spawning offshore. Spawning occurs on incoming tides, and the eggs are carried into the mangroves where the heat and sun triggers hatching. The interlaced mangrove roots and deadfall offer sanctuary for the fry.
During the winter months, juvenile and adult snook are often dormant as they slow their metabolism to conserve heat and energy. Barometric changes definitely affect appetites, but if you’re in the right spot when they decide to eat, the action can be memorable. “When we’re using plugs, I always have one angler fishing a jig down deep” he said. “Some of my biggest fish have been caught on the Sure Thing and the biggest snook ever on this boat was landed off the upper Turner River backcountry in February 2001. I didn’t have a camera, but it was
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