A Snook Fly By

  As many of you know, in the summer time in Florida, the snook make their way from the backwaters out into the surf zones in the Southern part of Florida to stuff themselves for the impending spawn. This time of year presents anglers with a variety of opportunities for some fast action all along the Southern coast on local beaches, piers and jetties. I attempt to partake in the summer surf festivities as much as possible, but this trip I decided to sit back and watch Team Rebel's light tackle specialist Chris Nicklin in action with his trusty fly rod.

  We arrived at the beach a couple hour before sundown, with the conditions less than favorable for snook on the fly, but Chris was determined to try to show me the benefits of using the fly rod for snook in the surf, as I myself am not particularly into the fly-fishing scene. After walking the weed laden beach for the better part of half a mile without seeing too many snook, but that all changed in an instant when we stumbled upon a pod of hungry snook feeding on some very small sardines. Chris loaded up the rod and slung his clauser minnow against the wind and began to navigate the fly with precision between the floating sargassum, when all of a sudden he rose the rod quickly in a vulgar display of power, and the battle was on.

  The fish took multiple blistering runs taking Chris into the backing of his fly reel, but after a short time and some crafty work with the rod, he landed this beautiful, overslot, summer surf snook.

So after a few quick pictures,Chris sent the stout female back to the depths to continue its spawning regimen, and to help repopulate the snook stock that has taken a large hit in recent years due to our unusually cold winters as of late.

Chris decided he was going to take one more shot at another snook before we had to make the hike back to the truck, and I tentatively agree to the motion put forth. And after another cast, Chris was bowed up yet again, but this time to a smaller specimen. But shortly after the initial hook-up, Chris felt a hard "thump" on the other end of his line, and line began peeling off his fly reel at an alarming rate for a few moments before the line went slack again. Chris reeled in his line to find a small snook attached to the end with its tail missing from a fresh shark bite.

 As we made our way back up the beach to the truck, I realized that maybe there is some advantages to using fly-rods on the beach, as it seemed to me that the fish responded better to a small fly, than lures you can use with regular fishing gear. All I know is that I will definitely be back on the sand soon with Chris, and maybe, just maybe, wielding a fly-rod and cruising down the beach in search of a Snook fly by.

Until next time....Team Rebel out!