snook bite during Fay

Capt. Rob Ottlein
August 23, 2008
Flagler Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report

The word around town is about the snook bite that was going on during tropical storm Fay. A few people who were brave enough to fish Fay were rewarded with a lot of snook and some big one's at that. I've heard that snook up to 20 lbs were landed from atop Highbridge. The outgoing tide was ripping under the bridge and those that fish there know how the snook love fast moving water. All you had to do was drop some sort of mullet imitation into the water and they would pounce on it. Now I give credit to those who braved the conditions but I felt much safer in the confines of my house.
It will be interesting to see how the fishing will be once the storm is totally gone. All the rain has left us with mostly freshwater in the ICW down the southern end of Flagler County and the northern end of Volusia County. It usually takes a couple of weeks of west wind and no rain for the water to return to normal conditions. During this time I would stick to artificial baits that have rattles in them or soft plastic baits that are scented. Using live shrimp is a waste of money because they die really quick from the freshwater. Live mullet or pinfish would be your best bet right now when it comes to live bait.
Before the storm the snook fishing was good and I expect it to get even better as the mullet run starts in September.The trout bite was was starting to improve with larger trout starting to appear. I had a 5 1/2 lb trout on a fly last week. It hit a mighty minnow.
For those of you that fly fish I highly suggest you try a Todd's Wiggle Minnow. I have found this to be a very effective fly. It can be fished as a topwater fly on a floating line. It can also be fished as a deep swimming fly when fished on a sinking line. As it's name applies (wiggle minnow) it puts out great action. It looks like a diving plug when it goes under the surface. If your local fly shop doesn't carry it you can Goggle todds wiggle fly and you'll be able to find a shop that carries it. I recommend the 2/0 size for saltwater. www.hatchesmagazine.com has good step by step instructions on how to tie this fly.

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