TURN THE FISH 

When shallow water fish like snook and reds feel the pressure of a hook up, they usually run for any structure they can find. Whether it’s mangrove roots or an oyster bar, the fish will try to find something to break your line or leader. When you hold the rod tip high, this exerts general overhead pressure on the fish, but it doesn’t do much in the way of influencing the fish’s direction. To achieve the most turning power, hold your rod low and to the side. This pulls the fish’s head around and steers him away from the structure he’s trying to reach. Rods with plenty of backbone and reels loaded with braided line help you accomplish this.

 

BOATSIDE MANNER       

When a fish nears the end of its fight, a boatmate often assists the angler by netting or lifting the catch. However, the fisherman still has a lot of responsibility and little details can greatly affect your success. First, keep about a rod’s length of line out so you can easily maneuver the fish. The shorter your line, the closer the fish is to your rod and this limits your range of movement. Also, keep your line tight until your partner has control of the fish – then relax the tension. Keeping the line tight runs the risk of popping a hook loose and sticking it in your fellow angler.

 

DEAD BAIT SNOOK         

When snook turn finicky toward live baits, you don’t necessarily have to close up shop and move to another location. Sometimes, a slow tide just lowers the fish’s interest in fast-moving baitfish. The snook may still eat, but they’re just lazy about it. This is when a ldead minnow can work wonders. When baitfish die in the well or on your hook, save them and reuse them during slow tidal periods. Cast the bait into potholes where the snook can easily spot it and let the bait sit perfectly still. In this scenario, snook will shy away from any movement, so just wait for the line to tighten and then reel down and set the hook.

 

TIP TOP SHAPE 

Handling your own fish at boatside requires patience and proper rod work. One important point to remember is that gripping your rod near the tip can be the recipe for disaster. Too much direct pressure on the end of a rod works very differently than the natural curve that a rod takes when you’re fighting a fish. You can prevent this problem by leaving about a rod’s length of line off the tip. This allows you to keep the appropriate amount of pressure on the rod, while enabling you to control your hooked fish by gripping the line.