SEPTEMBER IS THE OPENINGOF
SNOOK SEASON, AVERYBIGDEAL
By Capt. Van Hubbard We tend to take our good health for granted. My body is
www.captvan.com aging and I am forced to pay for the carelessness in my youth; you
may be in this boat too. I was lucky because my Mom was a nurse and
Snook are the inshore target species in my Charlotte warned me about sunburns. Since my eyes were weak in sunlight I had
Harbor neighborhood, and I remember well from my youth that to wear sunglasses. I just went for my eye exam and needed to invest
Tampa Bay folks love Snook even more. We have endured some several hundred more dollars in new prescription eye glasses. Yes, I
crazy weather this Summer, so I am guessing we will see Fall fronts need polarized lenses to see in the water better but I want to see as
early this year. Expect an Indian Summer interlude of great weather much as I can, for as long as I can. Don’t put off protecting your health
sometime, no one knows when, so enjoy; it may be short. Keep in because of money or the mistakes that you can not undo. Find a way
mind this is prime hurricane season and just because it’s been quiet to take care of yourself today so you can enjoy the best future you can!
so far is no indication we won’t see big storms! Stay prepared and Please be sure of the protection factor in your glasses; many
enjoy our good fortunes wherever we bump into ‘em. We have seen expensive glasses are not superior in protection. Look for UVand
more Snook than usual recently and conditions look favorable for a UVAprotection, just like in your sunscreens. Ask a professional that
productive fall season with all of our species, especially Snook. you trust! I don’t like to burden you, but I need to protect our readers.
Baitfish are plentiful for gamefish to eat and for us as baits. Don’t
miss any opportunities to fish before Winter changes everything! We now have a saltwater shore angler license required of
Florida residents 16–65 years old and non residents 16 and older.
Most of our other fish are ready to cooperate now also. Reds are Please check with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to answer
ready to bunch up and go crazy. Trout are open till November. any questions. The Florida Legislature was encouraged to pass this
Spanish Mackerel are already scattered here but the migratory because the Feds were going to mandate a more costly license and
schools with the bigger Kings are due late September or early keep the money if we did not. Some great news is that these fees will
October. Make up some extra rigs and get your boats and tackle ready basically double from taxes we already pay the Feds but were not get-
now. ting back. But the state lawmakers saw fit to rob FFWC of previous
designated revenues when it passes this income. Remember those
Right now, most of these fish are chasing those plentiful who do and do not protect our state’s precious resourses that sustain
minnow schools inside the Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. As the our struggling economy; they will campaign again soon! They do
weather starts to cool even slightly notice how fish will turn on seem to hear us better before they are elected!
dramatically. You want to catch this transition zone because it’s the
catching action we all dream of. Whenever it starts to get really cold We have a very different tournament, based out of the
this will be memories. Snook are heading inside and upstream. Reds, Mote Marine Center in Sarasota, scheduled for mid October. This is
at least those big schools of 26–35 inch fish, are Gulf-bound. They a Snook research event, and while there will be categories and prizes,
will bounce in and outside with weather and storms. Hot spots are look for a much more family fun format. I’ll have more info next
Skyway and Ft. Desoto areas of Tampa Bay or any bridges systems month and will be helping out with their kid’s day and Snook Shindig
near Gulf Passes up and down this coast. Hungry Reds drop to events. This is a special time of the year before cold weather changes
deeper waters for hard weather and charge to nearby flats for food as our region.
it clears up. Trout will turn on when the minnows disappear and
shrimp become their food choice. Minnows move outside to welcome Let’s go fishin’soon.
those migrations of Mackerel, Jacks, Sharks, Tarpon, etc. Match the Capt. Van Hubbard
hatch with lures; don’t over-complicate this, fish are hungry; just get Past President of Florida Guides Association
an imitation in front of hungry fish for a great day of catching! Please and Winner of 1999 Mote Marine Award
handle release fish with care and limit your catch to what you can
info@captvan.com
enjoy or share while fresh.
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Issue 46 August 2009
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