Captain Goop Charters: Summertime Snook Bite
With the spring season coming to an end and summer months quickly approaching, water temperatures are back on the rise. These warmer water temperatures provide the chance to catch one of the most popular fish species in South Florida, the common snook. In the Indian River Lagoon, you can find snook along the mangroves, where they feed on many types of baitfish. Snook tend to feed more aggressively
in the spring and summer months as they head into their spawning stage. The tides and moon phases play a huge part in catching this species, as they are opportunistic feeders. These fish often have a calm presence and move relatively slow until it’s time to feed, or they’ve been hooked. Anglers can expect a fight of a lifetime from a big snook. Trout, redfish, and tarpon are other common species that are targeted in the lagoon.
While the snook are heading into their annual summer spawn, we can expect to see them start moving outside of the inlets and onto the beaches. Pinfish, croakers, and mullet are all excellent choices for those who like to fish with live bait. If you prefer to fish artificial, anything from D.O.A. bait busters to bucktails jigs and gold/silver spoons will get the job done. Remember, when catching this big, beautiful species to handle them with care, as they will be in their spawning stage. Be sure to support the bellies while holding them horizontally, as holding them vertically can cause irreversible damage to their internal organs and can be fatal. Some other species you might expect to see off the beaches this time of year include tarpon, crevalle jack, and of course sharks.
If you’re up for the challenge, try your luck fly fishing in the lagoon or off the beach for the common snook. Arguably one of the most difficult fish to catch on fly, snook have a distinctive black lateral line that run down either side of their bodies. This line serves as a sensory system which allow the fish to feel vibrations in the water, protecting them from predators and sensing movement of prey. This can present an added challenge for anglers as they are walking along the beaches, across the deck of a boat, or opening and closing hatches since these fish are capable of picking up different vibrations and can spook quite easily.
As a charter captain raised on fishing the Indian River Lagoon, I feel it’s within my purview to remind those who are aware, and inform those who aren’t, our lagoon is in dire need of attention. While there is no single remedy to restore the state of the lagoons water quality, there are actions we can take to help prevent it from getting worse. I encourage you to research, learn, and hold space for an open, honest conversation on the topic. Captains for Clean Water, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, and Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) are all great resources and serve as a voice for those of us who spend our time on these waters. Happy fishing and safe boating. Tight lines!
Book an inshore or nearshore charter by visiting captaingoopcharters.com, or contact Spencer Reilly directly at Spencerfishingvb@gmail.com, or (772)-696-6025. You may also find him on instagram at @captngoop.
Written by Riley Nichols and Spencer Reilly // Photography provided by Spencer Reilly