The lake action continues, been fishing this location for about 20 years, but 2021 has been one of the most spectacular yet. Today I got this beautiful landlocked snook, that's the fourth one this season!
It's a blast on light tackle with plenty of open water with no structure to break the line, unlike from the ocean pier where I normally catch snook. This rig would have no chance of landing the bruisers that lurk there. On the other hand, I'll eat the salt water fish, but the lake is strictly catch/release for me.
It was a "lake slam" today, bass, peacock and snook!
Sounds like quite a ride.
That picture looks very similar to your last one, carbon copy snook!
The Man
Like I said, this is #4 this year.
Here's the previous one:
(https://alantani.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=20497.0;attach=107335;image)
nice Robalo amigo, those fish can pull some line
Nice!
Very nice fish on light tackle,,,,,, ;D
Slam it! nice fish, congrats.
Favorite fight, favorite meal.
Great fishin' Nelz! 8)
I understand releasing your snook, but I am curious: Saltwater snook is fantastic on the table; do freshwater snook taste the same? BTW: Nile perch, a close relative to the snook, is great on the table and featured on many menus in Europe and Africa.
Nice FW Snook!
How about the fight, FW or SW better, or no difference?
Looked it up. In the Order Perciformes, but not in that family.
They are currently out of season in the sunshine state, and that one looked out of slot. He did right by releasing. Neber had a freshie but I'm told its ocean>inshore>fresh in terms of flacor
I don't care how good they taste. Some fish just shouldn't be kept in this day and age. They are worth ten times more alive than they are dead. Get a Filet-O-Fish sandwich instead.
Quote from: oc1 on December 28, 2021, 03:45:57 AM
I don't care how good they taste. Some fish just shouldn't be kept in this day and age. They are worth ten times more alive than they are dead. Get a Filet-O-Fish sandwich instead.
Steve, your response reminds me of our response when folks ask if we kept a fish. We always say "Nope...but on the way back to the house we stopped at Donnie's and got a feesh sammich"! ;D
Thanks guys for all the compliments. Some answers to points brought up:
1: The fight is awesome on the light rig I use, plenty of drag screaming. Got some on the Mini-Mite and a Symeter 2000, both with light braid and barbless hooks.
2: Yes the season is closed, C&R only, and yes it would have been under slot size anyway.
3: Don't know how they taste because I'll never eat one from these waters. Too many houses surround the lake, that means plenty of pesticides and cesspools oozing into the water.
4: Yes, Nile Perch look alot like giant Snook, and so do Barramundi from down under, no doubt another close relative to the snook and tasty too.
Wishin' y'all a happy fishin' new year! ;D
Btw, (previously posted this one), but for comparison, heres a "Fat Snook", different species, got 'em on the Mini Mite:
(https://alantani.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=32711.0;attach=106466;image)
I'm confused...So, we leave the snook alone when caught on rod and reel but support the draggers who collect the cod and pollack, (probably hake too) for the filet o'fish sandwich?
How many sea creatures (bycatch) die from each drag for that filet o'fish? I like both snook and the filet o'fish just wondering why the snook gets the pass?
Oh, and please don't post links about the decline of snook because I'll just post the links for the decline of cod, and their bycatch.
Dom
PS- I'm not talking about if a fish is out of season. If they aren't legal leave them alone.
Doesn't to much ever make sense with the guys and little girls controlling it,,,,,, :-\
Dom, you didn't read my post. I'll most certainly take home a legal ocean snook, but:
"Too many houses surround the lake, that means plenty of pesticides and cesspools oozing into the water."
Quote from: broadway on December 28, 2021, 11:55:16 PM
I like both snook and the filet o'fish just wondering why the snook gets the pass?
Because Nelz has been working hard to catch a few snook and has been having a great time doing it. His investment in time and money and his rewards makes each one very valuable. If you paid a guide to put you on a nice snook it might be worth even more. Something in the range of hundreds to a thousand dollars per fish. When he puts it back the value can double if another guy catches it. Too expensive to eat
Nelz, I read your post and then I read another post saying "some fish should just never be kept in this day and age" prior to you writing the lake water isn't so clean.
I wasn't saying you should've kept him just wondering why you "shouldn't."
Seriously Steve? Value of fish doubling?? This isn't the million dollar Koi.
Nelz, have a blast catching those fighters you seem to have their ticket.
Sorry for interrupting your thread. Now go take another bite of your snook sandwich.
Best
Dom
Quote from: broadway on December 29, 2021, 11:12:25 AMNelz, I read your post and then I read another post saying "some fish should just never be kept in this day and age"
10-4 good buddy ;D
On another note, I've thought about filming/posting/monetizing my niche fishing adventures and the special tactics I use, but always conclude, no, the poor fish are under enough pressure. I just won't do it. But hey, that's another thread too, I'm derailing my own, lol. ::)
Some around here will release a fish thinking they're helping the survival of the species. In reality, 99% of declines in fish populations are directly connected to commercial over harvesting. Bottom draggers don't descriminate between targeted fish and bycatch, all of which are squished to death under tons of fish in a drag net. Those same nets churn up the bottom like a farmer plowing his field, and crippling the habitat crucial to the survival of those bottom dwelling species.
There once was. a time when the grand Banks was considered a never ending biomass. Donald's Fishwich eventually ran out of grand Banks cod, and now the bearing sea is dragger central to feed the world with fishwich, and will someday succumb to same demise as grand Banks.
Yes, I release fish, and some require a descending device, but nothing stops that same fish from landing on your Donald's Fishwich via a bottom or midstream commercial dragger
Nelz, my apologies for hi-jacking your thread. Glad you had a fun day of fishing
Yep. :'(
Snook are not captured by groundfish trawls. In fact, there are no commercial snook landings. But, they are killed by abnormal winter freezes, pesticides, reduced freshwater flow, overfishing and other things. I continue to be shocked by the lack of conservation ethic on this forum in the face of declining catches. You are the enemy.
Quote from: oc1 on December 29, 2021, 07:51:01 PMBut, they are killed by abnormal winter freezes, pesticides, reduced freshwater flow, overfishing and other things.
Don't forget red tide!
Geez, Steve, no biggie, but you got lost somewhere... or maybe I did, it's all good.
No hard feelings, just questions about your original comment.
Enemy?
We are a knowledgeable forum who inform one another if they have knowledge to pass on. You have contributed nicely to that but this time ya lost me.
Hope you and the family have a nice New Year,
Dom
Quote from: nelz on December 29, 2021, 03:35:35 AM
Dom, you didn't read my post. I'll most certainly take home a legal ocean snook, but:
"Too many houses surround the lake, that means plenty of pesticides and cesspools oozing into the water."
Yes,,,, >:( I got stuck buy a small fish and I thought I was going to die,,,,, :-[ the brackish water in Florida will make you very sick,,,,,,,, :o
Vibrio vulnificus
Commercial fishing does account for much of the decline in fish populations. But just as important -- and probably more important in the future -- are climate change and environmental degradation. For example, higher ocean temperatures are having a profound and lasting impact on salmon populations world wide. And as for releasing fish: Whether I keep a particular fish or not -- any species -- will not have a measurable impact on the population. But if we **all** keep those fish, it might. Hence: regulations and limits which, we can only hope, are well considered.
Say what you want about the deadbeat political fishery managers, but it's all we got to prevent the tragedy of the commons.
Yup.
Some species in the sport fisheries have so much value for certain fisherman, poaching them doesn't seem to bother those guy's at all. Prolly can't remember all of the incidents I know-of and have witnessed, especially when it comes to anadromous trout and salmon species. Always wondered how much of a dent this might have put in the fish populations. Too many variables, to really know.
Unfortunately, myself, as a young fisherman—guilty. Mostly private waters, or parts of waterways, closed to fishing. Don't remember having any trouble from my conscience, but remembering it bothers me now. It was mostly ego that drove me, even after being fined and having my equipment confiscated, once. That desire to "bring home the beacon" and show everyone how good a fisherman I was.
Confession is good for the soul. ::)