Snook are strictly regulated to protect it from overfishing. Catching them requires a license, permit, they must be within the range of a certain size, the bag limit is one a day, you’re only allowed to keep them in season and they are not allowed to be sold or bought. So your only way of having some is to grab your gear and get out on the water.
Many say its all worth it for an amazing seasonal treat. Snook is a delicious sport fish, ask almost anyone that has tried a bite. They will normally reply that it was one of the best-tasting fish that they have ever had. The meat is white, with medium density and a mild subtle taste. With countless recipes online a quick search will bring up a plethora of options to choose. remember to remove the skin or your gonna have a bad time. Anyways a favorite among many is the deep fried fish method. But which every way you like to prepare them this is definitely a tasty fish unless you don’t take the skin off then its not.
Snook can be found in south and central Florida mostly inshore brackish and coastal waters. they can also be found along man-made structures mangroves, and shorelines and Large schools form in summer for spawning.
Snook Fishing in Florida is a remarkable way to experience the outdoors. Snook is a great eating fish and are one amazing fish to catch. Seasonally they are open for harvest but are just as fun to catch-and-release.
The Florida State Record for Cobia is 130 lb 1 oz, and was caught near Destin. No wonder Destin is the Cobia Capital of the World! Imagine a fish of that size! Cobia are some of the strongest fighting fish because of their beefy muscular make up and their innate tenacity. The Cobia is a powerful fish and a thrilling catch and is one of the most sought after game fish and once hooked the thrill really begins with line coming off a screaming reel and the angler unable to do anything but hang on! Cobia are considered an inshore/near shore species and sight fishing is the best method to find these tasty brawlers and works even better if your vessel is equipped with a tower or raised platform. Cobia can be found in all waters off of the coast of Florida and down into the Keys.
The appearance of the fish in local waters is temperature driven and most Cobia anglers start watching the water around mid March for the fish to show up. Cobia are generally found in near shore and inshore waters with inlets and bays – the fish like structure and are frequently found around buoys, pilings and wrecks in these areas. Cobia spawn in spring and early summer and can be found throughout the summer months. Experienced Cobia anglers will look for turtles, manta ray and floating debris to find Cobia- the fish enjoy the easy pickings from the rays as they dig up the bottom foraging for their own dinner.
Cobia are a versatile game fish caught on fly and spinning tackle both. They can be found in offshore waters, near shore waters and on the flats. So no matter what your equipment, type of boat or level of experience there is A COBIA IN YOUR FUTURE!
Best bait and tactics for catching Cobia.
The BEST TACTIC for hooking and catching Cobia it to BE PREPARED! Cobia have a reputation for being extremely finicky when it comes to live baits and lures so have several rods baited and standing by with a variety of offerings. Cobia frequently travel in at least pairs and sometimes threesomes – have several stout rods rigged and ready to go at the fish opportunity. Live crabs and small fish are good bait for cobia but eels and live pinfish and a variety of artificial baits work well especially bucktail combinations with plastic tails. My favorite bait for cobia is an artificial eel made of surgical tubing with a lead sinker at the head. Live baits for cobia include spot, menhaden, mullet, minnows, perch, eels, shrimp, crabs, and clams. These use of these live baits vary with season and location and only experience can tell you what to use and when. Keep bait near the surface or, if cobia are deeper, add just enough weight to get the bait down and still retain its movement. Medium to heavy tackle is generally a good idea to land these fish that average 30 pounds and as every true Cobia hunter knows can easily go over 60 pounds. Fishing for cobia along pilings with a weighted eel is a favorite tactic of experienced anglers.
Cast the reel so it drops alongside the pilling and drops down- if you don’t get a strike the first time keep trying until you have covered all angles before moving on.
A word of caution, Cobia are a tough hard fighting fish and large specimens when gaffed and boated have caused anglers to lose equipment, be injured and have damaged boats. Have a plan when you get that fish over the side- have a fish box open and ready and the decks cleared so you can easily in one coordinated move land the fish and move it to the fish box.
Good recipes for cooking and eating Cobia.
Cobia are excellent table fare and are also great raw for sushi or sashimi. It can also be used as a replacement for fish such as tuna, if people are looking for an environmentally sustainable alternative, as the texture and flavor are quite similar. Did you know that Cobia grows three times as fast as salmon and has been commercially produced in Asia, particularly in Taiwan where it is stocked in about 80% of ocean cages. Here are a few good Cobia recipes to try out- but nothing can beat a hot charcoal grill and a little Italian seasoning splashed on top!
Lemon Butter Cobia
Ingredients: 1 lb. cobia steaks 1/2 fresh lemon 1 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. olive oil 1/2 tsp. Old Bay crab seasoning or equivalent
Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Drain steaks and lay in a casserole dish coated with olive oil.
Squeeze lemon juice over steaks, coat with butter and sprinkle with seasoning.
Bake for 10 minutes or until fish is white on the outside and still slightly pink in the center.
Baked Cobia with Italian Herbs
Ingredients
1 lb. cobia steaks 1 cup crushed bread crumbs 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano 1/2 cup melted butter
Directions:
1. Rinse fillets and allow to drain in a colander. If necessary, blot away excess water with a paper towel.
2. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
3. Dredge fillets in butter and roll in dry season mixture. Place fillets on a greased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 375-degrees for approximately 15-20 minutes. The fish is cooked when it is white and flakes easily
Snook are fish that live either in saltwater or fresh water. Tricky to catch, Snook are still much sought-after because of their delicious meat and the challenge of catching one. Like most fish, Snook are cold blooded animals. Thus, they rely on the water temperature to regulate the temperature of their bodies. Cold temperatures are detrimental to the health of this fish species and sudden drops in temperature can be deadly. Thus, Snook have to migrate to warmer waters such as Flamingo in the Florida Keys when winter begins.
The migration patterns largely depend on where they are currently located, what temperature that location has, and in what direction is the warmer body of water. Snook migrating through the waters of Florida follow an east to west pattern, as opposed to the usual north to south that many fish species do.
Snook can easily move from freshwater to salt water and vice versa. Those who have observed them swim upstream say that they stay close to the center of the water body – be it a large river or a small creek. Also, Snook love to travel during day time.
The problem with migrating Snook is that they ignore your bait, most of the time, no matter how delicious it might be. They are also easily spooked so fly fishing for Snook can be frustrating. In fact, Snook are the most difficult to catch when they are migrating. Still, if you try to be as subtle as you can, you’d probably be able to entice one to take your bait while Cape Canaveral Inshore Fishing.
Snook Fishing in Florida:
Snook Fishing in Florida in the ultimate inshore fishing experience. You truly can’t beat the action especially once the snook move in during their migrations. Most of the migrations are due to mating and that search for warmer weather. Summer months are the most productive months to catch them but also the time of year that you can’t harvest them. According to FWC, Dec. 15- Jan. 31st and June 1st- Aug. 31st seasons of harvest are closed.
September 1st brings about one of the most incredible times to go Night Fishing in Cape Canaveral. Inshore Fishing for these elusive beasts will be one of the most action-packed fishing adventures of your lifetime!
The Jack fish or Jack Crevalle is characterized by their beautiful color of bluish-green to greenish-gold on their backs. These fish also have silvery or yellowish bellies. Its soft dorsal fin and anal fins are almost identical in size and it has a prominent black spot on the gill cover and black spots at the base of each pectoral fins. There are no scales on the throat of the Jack fish. This fish species can grow to nearly 60 pounds. Species similar to Jacks are the Caranx.
Jackfish Habitat
Jack fish or Jacks can be found in both inshore waters and the open sea. They tend to show up anywhere and everywhere but most of the time in places where there are lots of food or baitfish. Jacks often travel into fresh or brackish waters and are often seen in springs that lead to the ocean.
Jackfish Traits
Jacks school by size, the largest fish forming the smallest schools. When they sight prey, often near the surface of the water, they perform remarkable slashing attacks and with such commotion that can be seen at a great distance. When they are done attacking and feeding, they regroup again for their next assault. Jacks are known to be a predatory species and are one of the most contentious bullies in the waters.
Their main food item is fish. A food study reveals that 80% of fish were found in their stomachs, 40% invertebrates, and 2% pieces of wood. They have great swimming endurance as evidenced by their red flesh and falcate tail fin. Jacks also tolerate a wide range of salinities.
Barracuda – overlooked as an Inshore and Offshore game fish!
The Barracuda is a salt water fish belonging to the genus Sphyraena in the family Sphyraenidae. It can be found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. It can be described as a ray-finned fish and is known for its large and fearsome appearance. It possesses a long body, fairly compressed and is covered with small, smooth scales. Some of the species can grow to a length of 1.8meters and 30 centimeters in width. This species is a nocturnal creature.
Habitat
Barracudas can be found in warm, tropical regions. They can also be found in more temperate areas. They can be found near the surface of the water but have been seen in depths of 100 meters or around 90 feet.
Demeanor
A group of barracudas is termed as a battery. These species is voracious and opportunistic predators which rely on surprise and short bursts of speed in order to overtake their prey. Barracudas are usually solitary when they reach adulthood. However, young and half-grown fish frequently congregate. They prey primarily on fish, even those as large as themselves, and attack by tearing off small chunks.
Habit
Barracudas are known to be bold and inquisitive. They may even be dangerous to humans. They have been known to inhabit open waters and bay areas in the shadow and under floating objects. This fish is attracted to things that are silvery in color and have a high reflection similar to the fish they eat. This explains why some of the human attacks made by barracudas are on those wearing earrings, bracelets, or those wearing something shiny.
Cast the reel so it drops alongside the pilling and drops down- if you don’t get a strike the first time keep trying until you have covered all angles before moving on.
Jackfish Habitat
