Jensen Beach :: Snook City, Florida
Hit Jensen beach yesterday and caught one slot snook on chunked, dead ballyhoo. So surprising. I was freelining a pilchard for the good stuff. The dead bait had been in the water like 45 minutes and as I was casting a fresh pilchard with my other rod the snook nailed the dead bait and almost pulled the rod into the water.
Also caught a massive Snook on a 6-inch live whiting. Didn't measure it but eyeballed it against my rod and the mark measured 40 inches. It was well over slot.
I was using my light rod (10-pound test) for this one and thought I was gonna get spooled. Finally turned him, got him almost to the beach when he saw me and bolted on a 60-70 foot run. Got him turned and to the beach again, and as soon as his head popped he got another look at us and bolted, running even farther. Third time bringing him near shore a guy volunteered to sneak out and grab the leader.
I was starting to feel guilty catching something like that on such light tackle and fighting it for so long, but we got the hook out quickly and the fish bolted. Didn't need to be revived at all. And nothing but his head ever left water.
I've never caught fish like that from the beach. It was freaking bananas. Need to bring my camera with me from here on out. I didn't even have my phone with me (started fishing in a rainstorm)
Jensen rules. There were decent-sized schools of bait around getting hammered off and on all day, chased onto the beach, etc. It's so cool to see so much wildlife in the water so close to shore.
J-
