The Sand Dollar Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 37

shing! og of Fishin' Franks and flounder are already starting to bite in the Englewood area! These fish are an easy catch on lure or live bait. You just have to figure out what they prefer that day. When I am beach fishing, we try to cast net whatever live bait is swimming around the area. If you're without a cast net you can never go wrong with some live shrimp or pin fish from your local bait shop. Flounder, especially, love live shrimp. I let them walk along the sandy bottom, reeling very slowly, ensuring that my shrimp will stay alive and enticing the hiding flounder to jump up and take a bite. Spanish Mackerel will eat almost anything when you cast into a hungry school. These are a great fight on lighter tackle. April is the last month you can harvest Snook. The Gulf Of Mexico season officially closes May 1st. Keeper slot must be 28-33 inches long. Over the next few weeks as the water temps increase snook will begin to swim along the sandy shallows of our beaches. My favorite way to catch snook is sight casting them along the beach. I use a live green back and 30lb fluorocarbon, paying careful attention to throw ahead of the school I am targeting. Its a real rush to watch them swim around your bait, checking it out, deciding if it looks like a great meal. In the blink of an eye they inhale the green back and put on a great splashing show as you bring them in! THE SAND DOLLAR | 36