Snook are the inshore target species in my Charlotte Harbor neighborhood, and I remember well from my youth that Tampa Bay folks love Snook even more. We have endured some crazy weather this Summer, so I am guessing we will see Fall fronts early this year. Expect an Indian Summer interlude of great weather sometime, no one knows when, so enjoy; it may be short. Keep in mind this is prime hurricane season and just because it’s been quiet so far is no indication we won’t see big storms! Stay prepared and enjoy our good fortunes wherever we bump into ‘em. We have seen more Snook than usual recently and conditions look favorable for a productive fall season with all of our species, especially Snook.

Baitfish are plentiful for gamefish to eat and for us as baits. Don’t miss any opportunities to fish before Winter changes everything! Most of our other fish are ready to cooperate now also. Reds are ready to bunch up and go crazy. Trout are open till November. Spanish Mackerel are already scattered here but the migratory schools with the bigger Kings are due late September or early October. Make up some extra rigs and get your boats and tackle ready now. Right now, most of these fish are chasing those plentiful minnow schools inside the Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

 As the weather starts to cool even slightly notice how fish will turn on 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 this will be memories. Snook are heading inside and upstream. Reds, at least those big schools of 26–35 inch fish, are Gulf-bound. They will bounce in and outside with weather and storms. Hot spots are Skyway and Ft. Desoto areas of Tampa Bay or any bridges systems near Gulf Passes up and down this coast. Hungry Reds drop to deeper waters for hard weather and charge to nearby flats for food as it clears up. Trout will turn on when the minnows disappear and shrimp become their food choice. Minnows move outside to welcome those migrations of Mackerel, Jacks, Sharks, Tarpon, etc.

Match the hatch with lures; don’t over-complicate this, fish are hungry; just get an imitation in front of hungry fish for a great day of catching! Please handle release fish with care and limit your catch to what you can enjoy or share while fresh. We tend to take our good health for granted. My body is 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 warned me about sunburns. Since my eyes were weak in sunlight I had to wear sunglasses. I just went for my eye exam and needed to invest several hundred more dollars in new prescription eye glasses. Yes, I need polarized lenses to see in the water better but I want to see as much as I can, for as long as I can. Don’t put off protecting your health because of money or the mistakes that you can not undo.

Find a way to take care of yourself today so you can enjoy the best future you can! Please be sure of the protection factor in your glasses; many expensive glasses are not superior in protection. Look for UV and UVA protection, just like in your sunscreens. Ask a professional that you trust! I don’t like to burden you, but I need to protect our readers. We now have a saltwater shore angler license required of Florida residents 16–65 years old and non residents 16 and older. Please check with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to answer any questions. The Florida Legislature was encouraged to pass this because the Feds were going to mandate a more costly license and keep the money if we did not. Some great news is that these fees will basically double from taxes we already pay the Feds but were not getting back. But the state lawmakers saw fit to rob FFWC of previous designated revenues when it passes this income. Remember those who do and do not protect our state’s precious resourses that sustain our struggling economy; they will campaign again soon! They do seem to hear us better before they are elected! We have a very different tournament, based out of the Mote Marine Center in Sarasota, scheduled for mid October. This is a Snook research event, and while there will be categories and prizes, look for a much more family fun format. I’ll have more info next month and will be helping out with their kid’s day and Snook Shindig events.

This is a special time of the year before cold weather changes our region. Let’s go fishin’ soon. Capt. Van Hubbard Past President of Florida Guides Association and Winner of 1999 Mote Marine Award info@captvan.com www.captvan.com