Snookin' in Stuart
Capt. Ron Presley
July 12, 2008
Cocoa Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
I had a great opportunity to take my eleven year old grandson on a fishing getaway this past week. We packed our bags and headed south for the River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach. Only a little more than a two hour drive from Merritt Island, this quaint destination is a fisherman's paradise. There are nearby boat ramps at the causeways and a dock on the Indian River to come home to each day.
The weather did not cooperate too well, as each morning the winds were blowing at about 10 miles per hour or more, from the southeast. The catching was slow, but the fishing and the experience with by grandson was the best.
Trying to ignore the winds, we fished a few rolling tarpon, lock-jawed trout and few willing snook. On one day a friend and fellow guide, Captain Duber Winters hopped aboard the "Finding Equilibrium" for a couple of hours of snook fishing. We headed south towards the inlet and a couple of Duber's favorite fishing holes. He suggested we start early and work the early morning bite. The strategy paid off when I hooked the first snook as day was barely breaking.
We were rigged with D. O. A. Holographic Shrimp on a 40 pound leader. As we cast up current the shrimp would drift toward the waiting fish. A fast action heavy rod is a good selection for this type of fishing. You definitely need some backbone to keep the fish from running back into the rocks, or the docks that you are fishing.
It didn't take too much longer before grandson Robert was pulling on another nice snook that also fell for the D.O.A. Shrimp. If you would like to do some of this snook fishing with Capt. Duber you can contact him at Green Water Charters, 772-631-1023.
This snook was definitely the fish that made the trip worthwhile. It is the kind of thing that makes kids into anglers. In fact, it is fish like this that keep most of us coming back for more.
On another day Robert and I had the pleasure of fishing with Capt. Mark Nichols, originator of the D.O.A. line of fishing lures. Needless to say, we had a great selection of lures to choose from on this trip. From TerrorEyz and C.A.L. series shad tail and jerk baits to the ever popular and productive D.O.A. Shrimp. You can visit the website at www.doalures.com/ and view all the different lures they make.
It was another windy day and the fishing conditions were not that favorable, but Capt. Mark's unending enthusiasm and persistence resulted in a nice variety of fish. First came a mutton snapper, then a mangrove snapper and several trout. We also spotted some rolling tarpon, but they just didn't want to play.
That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.
Target Species:
Snook
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