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Cut-Offs More Myth Than Fact

Posted Aug 17, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Aug 17, 2007 at 09:06 AM

Frank,

I have always wondered why outdoor writers and anglers have found themselves so fixated over the gill plates of a snook. Reams of paper have been devoted, and wasted, on insisting unless one is armed with a mono leader of hundreds of pounds, or wire, you will certainly be ‘‘cut off’’ by the gill plates.

Your story in the Aug. 12, 2007 Tribune prompted me to write. Just north of the terminal end of the gill plate of a snook lies what I will call that portion of the gill plate which has caused such misconception. Its sharp edge points to the tail of the fish. The great majority of hooked snook swim forward not backward. Hooked fish swim against the restraining fishing line. In a great many instances, if not in every instance of a hooked snook, the leader never touches the gill plate. The only exception which comes to mind is when a hooked snook jumps and flares its gills. Then, exists the potential, particularly if the angler ‘‘bows’’ to the fish thus placing slack into the line, for the leader/line to become entangled in that portion of the gill plate located north of the terminal end of the gill plate. If such entanglement occurs, your famous ‘‘cut-off’’ results.

I am convinced after many, many years of fishing the writings on gill plate cut-offs are more myth than fact unless, of course, hooked snook have learned to swim backwards.

What outdoor writers seem to regularly neglect from their snook writings is informing the angling public of the devastating effect on mono leaders, sans those of 100-pound test and above, by the lips of the snook. At the lip is where the vast majority of snook ‘‘cut-offs’’ occur, not on the north end of the gill plate.

I’d like to hear from you if you think otherwise.

Norman S. Cannella, Sr.

Norm,

I don’t disagree that the rough jaws of the snook do sandpaper their way through mono leaders, particularly lighter ones. However, I do think that in numerous cases where the leader breaks on the first run of the fish, as the fish is going away, that the leader can come over the shoulder of the fish, and in that case could easily be cut by the gill plate. In cases where the broken leader shows no roughness or sanding, it seems to be fairly likely that the cutoff was on the gill plates rather than on the jaws, to me. On the other hand, I brought this up with Scott Moore, and he said he thinks 90 percent of the cutoffs are on the jaws. In any case, thanks for sharing your thoughts, and tight lines. FS

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The Places To Wade

Posted Jul 27, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Jul 27, 2007 at 09:20 AM

Good Morning Frank—Did you used to work in the Houston, Tx. area as a sports writer? Your name sounds very familiar to me. I’m new to Tampa from the Texas Gulf Coast area and am looking for easily accessible spots to wade fish. You’ve written several articles on it, but I’ve not had much luck locating the exact points of entry into the water. Any help you could give me would be appreciated. I’m interested in Cockroach Bay, Simmons Park, and either end of Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Courtney Campbell Parkway (which restaurants are you referring too?). Sincerely, Ted Bishop

Ted: I used to work for Southern Outdoors and a number of other BASS publications, which is probably where you’ve heard my name. In any case, Cockroach Bay is at the west end of Cockroach Bay Road off U.S. 41 south of Ruskin. The trick here is to wade along the north shore until you round the mangrove point—then, you have miles of shallow water flats where you’ll find reds and snook. At Simmons Park north of Ruskin, it’s tougher—you have to wade or swim across the canal that’s on the northeast side, and then you gain access to more than a mile of mangrove shoreline—very good snook area. At the Skyway, you can park on the south end and wade either side—the farther you go from the parking area, the better the fishing. And at Courtney Campbell, I like the rocks out in front of the Rusty Pelican. Tricky wading in there—it’s easy to fall. But there are plenty of reds and the occasional snook. The east end of the bay here near the big hotel is also a good redfish wading area. Hope this helps. FS

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Try Gandy For Sharks

Posted Jul 11, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Jul 11, 2007 at 08:46 AM

Dear Frank: My family and I and a friend of the family have been fishing a lot at the Skyway Pier. Mostly the south pier. We have been trying for shark mainly, but go for whatever we can get. The problem we have been running into is the sharks haven’t been hitting like we want.  For baits I’ve been using mullet, bonita, jack and threadfins. I’ve tried chum blocks with no success. I’ve spoken to countless people at bait and tackle shops looking for advice. Some has been good and some has been bad. Do you have any suggestions for bait, chum, or a better place to go?  We mainly go at night on the weekends. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom in St. Pete

Tom: Give the Gandy Friendship Trail Bridge a try; that area has lots of bull sharks after dark, in there feeding on ladyfish attracted by the lights. Best bait is ladyfish, naturally, which you can catch on a small jig. It’s sometimes possible to actually see the sharks cruising the light line, and then pitch a cut ladyfish in front of them. Then, HANG ON! Tight lines. FS

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Fort DeSoto Advice

Posted Jul 5, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Jul 5, 2007 at 08:43 AM

Mr. Sargeant, I have read tons of your articles and have always found them knowledgeable and entertaining. I have recently fished the heck out of Fort DeSoto without very much luck, I’m afraid. I’m just not understanding what’s keeping me from the fish this year. I have heard about better snook fishing a little farther north, but I must be cursed this year. I really need some sure-fire stuff. Can you help me out? - James

James, I’d try getting out there at dawn and walking the beach near Bunce’s Pass, casting ahead as you walk within 5 to 15 feet of the sand. A DOA Shrimp of a Mirrodine would be a good choice. Best action is likely to be on the two or three days just after a new or full moon, on rising tide. Good luck! FS

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Northern Areas Yield Good Action

Posted Jun 28, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Jun 28, 2007 at 02:31 PM

Dear Frank, It is obvious that the saltwater fishing is not so hot above Tarpon, but just once could you guys throw us a bone and show areas in Pasco and Hernando? If there are places to wade above Green Key, we non-boaters would be tickled pink that someone knew we existed. Thank you, Leonard Reiss

Leonard: Fishing is great above Tarpon Springs, and I fish there often. In the past few months we’ve had pieces on the trout fishing up in your area, and on the trout at Homosassa, among others. Of course, wading can be a problem up there, particularly north of Hernando Beach, because of the vast marshes that guard the area. I know quite a few people who do well fishing off the Honeymoon Causeway, north side for trout and around the undercuts for snook. Right now, in that area, best bet would be to go to Honeymoon and fish the beaches for snook—walk all the way up to the north end, fishing as you go, on a rising tide. Cast within 10 feet of the beach ahead of you as you go with a Tsunami 4 inch swimbait or a Mirrodine - you’ll hook up. Tight lines. Frank Sargeant

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Deep Sea Advice

Posted Jun 28, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Jun 28, 2007 at 09:41 AM

Hey Frank, My family and I are going deep sea fishing on the Double Eagle on July 7. Could you give some advice as to what kind of bait and setup to use, to have the best chance of being able to bring home some fish? Thanks, Dave

A: You’ll probably do well using the gear and bait they provide. However, you might check with them to see if they have facilities to hold live bait; a dozen pinfish about 4 inches long would give you a great shot at some lunker grouper. You would need the usual bottom rig to handle these big fish—80 pound line, 100 pound leader, 4 to 8 ounces of weight above the swivel, 6/0 to 8/0 extra strong hook.

Another possibility is to take along a couple of sabiki rigs. Drop these down over the reef and reel up fresh baitfish, whatever bites. Then immediately put them on your big rig as bait. (Remember, though, you would have to have the jumbo weights on the sabiki to hit bottom out there, too.)

Last but not least, it might be worth trying some of the largest Berkley “Gulp” artificial baits. This stuff has an amazing scent attraction for all sorts of fish. I haven’t heard of anybody using it on the reef fish yet, but I’d bet it will work.

Tight lines, FS

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Guaranteed Action For Kids

Posted Jun 15, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Jun 15, 2007 at 08:30 AM

Hi Frank, Could you please give advice on where to try and chum up Spanish mackerel in the Clearwater / Dunedin area? I am looking for some guaranteed action for children. I have tried anchoring under the Memorial Causeway, using commercial chum from my local bait shop, but without any success. I used pinfish under a cork and free-lined for bait. The tide was flowing hard, but in 3 hours did not get a single bite. Thanking you, Alan

Alan: I’d try the outside edge of the jetties at Clearwater Pass, on a hard outgoing tide. Again, use the chum, but live shrimp is a better bait for Spanish, or use a 2-inch spoon, or 1/4 ounce jig with a little piece of fresh shrimp on it. In either case, with the artificials, work ‘em fast. Good luck. FS

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Advice For Out-Of-Towner

Posted May 11, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated May 11, 2007 at 11:21 AM

Dear Mr. Sargeant: I will be coming down to Tampa in two weeks.  We will be spending time in Longboat Key as well. We have a boat lined up for Tampa Bay but no real fishermen for guides.  Any suggestions for some recreational fishing for an out-of-towner at both these locations? I have also looked into a license and see that I may need both salt and fresh water. I appreciate any input you may have. Thank you, Casey O’Dell

Casey: It’s a good time to come. I’d suggest you fish on the southeast side of Tampa Bay, in the area known as The Bulkhead, and from there up to the Skyway, over grass bottom in water 2 to 8 feet deep. Use 1/4 ounce plastic tailed jigs or Tsunami 4-inch swimbaits, available locally. Hop them along bottom - you’ll catch plenty of trout, probably some mackerel and maybe blues, too. Good luck.

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Fishing At Fort DeSoto

Posted Apr 19, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Apr 19, 2007 at 05:04 PM

Hi Frank, thanks for the great articles and editorials. My family and I are headed to the Fort DeSoto this weekend; they want to bathe, I want to fish. Is there any special place/one location over there where we can park so they can hit the beach and I can fish either on the beach or the flats?  Thanks much. Warm regards, Greg Clarkson.

A: I’d suggest the north end at Bunce’s Pass. You can fish the pass for macks, or wade around inside there for reds/snook/trout. Beautiful beach there, restrooms, etc. Have fun. FS

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Tips For Beginning Fly Fisherman

Posted Apr 1, 2007 by Frank Sargeant

Updated Apr 1, 2007 at 07:11 AM

Frank, What equipment would you suggest for a beginner Fly fisherman? I have an automatic reel I used to use years ago for bass. I want to go both fresh and saltwater fly fishing. I saw Lefty Kreh at the expo and have decided to try it here in the bay for reds, trout, and bass. Where is a good place to get fly fishing equipment here in the Tampa Bay area? Thanks! - Andy Bohnenstiehl

Andy: I’d suggest an 8 weight graphite rod, with a basic fly reel, pretty much any serviceable reel that will hold the 8 weight line and 50 yards of backing. However, your automatic fly reel would not be a good choice; fish that pull drag, as reds certainly do, will overpower it. Buy a floating forward taper or “saltwater taper” line to match the rig, add 6 feet of mono leader, straight 20 is pretty good, though some tie a tapered leader with a 30-pound butt tapering to 20, and a few flies like the Clouser, Hansen Glass Minnow and other shrimp/minnow/crab imitations and you’re good to go. Bill Jackson’s Sporting Goods in Pinellas Park is a good place to get the whole rig. Tight lines, FS

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