Red Stier/Special to the Eagle

Jr. angler Audrey Dowdell holds a nice snook she caught and released while fishing a near shore fish haven with her boyfriend George.

Red Stier/Special to the Eagle

Audrey Dowdell's boyfriend holds another nice snook also caught and released. Audrey is busy fighting another big snook in the back ground. They were using, Calcutta Swim Baits.

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Southwest Florida near and offshore anglers continued to be challenged to get a comfortable fishing trip in during the last three weeks of April.

The weather forecast as I write this article is looking brighter. It is a good bet the last few days of April will see an improvement on all fishing fronts setting the stage for May which can be one of the most exciting months of the year with several species increasing in their average size and numbers including snook, tarpon, shark and permit.

Of course a four month closed season on snook starts May 1 in the Gulf waters reopening again September 1. Tarpon are protected year round unless you purchase a state issued tarpon tag at your local tax collectors office. It may be wise to check your fishing license and update it if needed. They can be purchased at the collector’s office or at local marinas and tackle shops.

Reports are in of some larger snook have been caught along the outer shoreline and passes. These snook will be larger and brighter in color than the ones inland.

While they are found at the near shore fish havens and wrecks year round, they will increase in their numbers, average size at the havens and be coming into their spawning mode.

Using live bait near the bottom such as mullet, pinfish, minnows, crabs or fresh cut ladyfish and mullet can work well. If you fish during a strong tide all the better.

These fish can be tough critters so please use tackle strong enough to get them to the surface fast enough to save them from the giant Goliath grouper.

The same advice goes for releasing them. Make sure they are revived so they have a chance to get back to the bottom unharmed.

While I have never had to deflate a snook as the water is never deep enough, they can however get very disorientated if they are turned upside down. If you are holding one for a photo opt make sure you are holding it right side up and do it as fast as possible. Laying the fish in the water right side up and moving it forward to let the water pass through their gills will revive them.

About two years ago I was fishing Caxambas Pass area with my good friend Capt. Van Every. He hooked into a 42 inch snook. Van thought it was a large ray as it headed to the bottom and out toward the pass. It is a “damn ray,” Van announced, “I think I will just break it off.”

“Don’t do it Van,” I answered, “I think it is a big snook.”

The fish was stripping his line down to a precious few yards. “Try dropping the tip of the rod down to give him some slack, he might decide to come back this way,” I said. Van did and the fish turned toward us. Van started to reel fast but he was fishing with very light tackle with 6 pound test line and the big fish took him for a ride for a good 45 minutes.

Van was going through some medical problems at the time and was as tired as the snook by the time we got the fish in the boat. I had my camera ready but before I could say anything he was unknowingly holding it upside down. I did not say anything but it did take us about a half hour to get the snook in shape to release it. My fishing buddy Van passed away a few months ago, gone but never forgotten.

Getting back to the near shore fish havens snook... A quick report with pictures just in from John Brossard of Naples Fertilizer. Captain Mark Dowdell’s daughter, Audrey and her boyfriend George Salavitos caught and released several Gulf snook while fishing the near shore havens. They were using Calcutta Swim baits. Thank you for the report, John.

Marco angler Wright Taylor reports they had 20 boats fish the Florida Conservation Association catch and release tournament April 5. Taylor also noted the fishing was off a little due to stiff winds and muddy water. Only seven out of the 20 teams brought a total of nine redfish to the scales with six of them measuring over 25 inches. Here is how it played out.

First place went to the team of Aldacosta and Zumfeld with two reds total weight 12.7 pounds; second place went to the team of Taylor, Giampaoli and Peterson with two reds weighing in at 11.70 pounds; third place went to the team of Pruitt and Barber with one red weighing in at 6.08 pounds; forth place was for the largest redfish of the day which weighed in at 6.28 pounds caught by the team of Kish, Emerine and McElvey.

Their monthly tournaments are held on the first Sunday of the month at Calusa Yacht Club and Marina on Goodland. Non members of CCA are invited to come early, join the club, enter the tournament and fish it.

Taylor also reminds everyone their next tournament will be changed to Sunday so they do not conflict with the Gene Doyle Memorial Fishing Tournament set for May 2, 3 and 4. You may go to www.genedoyle.org for more information about the Gene Dole event.

Everything is looking good on all fishing fronts for May.

Catch you later!

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Red Stier is a weekly contributor to the Marco Island Eagle. Questions or comments may be directed to redstier@aol.com or 172 Trinidad St., Naples, FL 34113.