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Week of September 13: The bite is back on during snook season!

Today’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms possible at about 11 a.m. Highs in the mid-80s and east winds 10 mph.  Seas 1 to 2 feet most of the week.

Our intrepid and charismatic fishing guide, “Snookman” Wayne Landry reports that that fishing has picked up considerably this past weekend at the North Jetty. Look for hoards of mullet coming down the beaches to this fishing paradise.

"Lots of snook are being caught on live bait, with live shrimp being the bait of choice for most of the catches and live pigfish being the other bait snook want,” Wayne says. “Most of the fish are averaging 33 to 40 inches that I have seen with quite a few ‘lot size’ fish being taken home by some lucky anglers.”

Mangrove snapper fishing is also picking up, and Wayne says they’ve had time to “grow up” a bit. He’s seeing them in the 11 to 14-inch range. They’re being taken on live bait, such as mojarra and pichards, but cut bait is also working. Mutton snapper are also showing up, but Wayne has only heard of a few at the 18-inch range that can be taken.

“Several redfish have been caught with most of them being too big to be kept (minimum size being 18 inches and no larger than 27 inches),” Wayne notes. “Spanish mackerel are around, but not in any numbers to speak of. Also, there are plenty of large barracudas still lurking around the jetty looking to devour your catch.”

 Water clarity and snook fishing has improved at the South Jetty, and are fish being caught on live baits, shrimp, mojarras and pigfish. Some slots are being caught as well. Wayne say redfish and snapper are present along the shoreline and jetty and some are being caught in the surf area just south of the jetty.

At the surf, the is water cooling down a bit and clearing up. Mullet are running down the beaches, which means snook, redfish and jacks could be on the hunt.  Wayne’s tip: “Find your favorite spot, grab your cast net and look for the birds diving in the water to locate the schools of mullet. The gamefish will be chasing them.” 

The best bet offshore is in 40 to 70 feet of water, where kingfish are running thick — and there are still kingfish to be found closer to shore chasing mullet schools.

“Offshore, kings are following schools of bonita…Look for the birds and fish the area,” Wayne recommends. “The fish are averaging 10 to20 pounds and some are upwards of 40 pounds. Slow troll live baits, mullet, pogies and large plugs or drone spoons for these creatures. Also, I hear some mangrove snapper are still being caught on the inshore reefs with live pins and cut bait doing the trick. Good luck all and get out there and catch some fish!”

This week's fishing photo is just a random photo we have on file because nobody sent us a single photo. Ed Garland, our new public outreach associate, is dying to share a weekly fishing photo. He’s starting to have heartburn on Mondays when he looks to find zero submissions in the hopper. Please send us your pics!  We need photos and stories to include in upcoming fishing reports.  If you want to be featured with your catch, send in a picture and the details of your fishing trip to the inlet by using the Contact Form on our website.  Pictures work best vertical and if you center the person with their catch, leaving room on the sides. We try to publish all the ones we receive.

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