HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[tyler]

I got this email last night and thought you all might be interested in seeing some Texas Snook
Now this was a day I've been anticipating for quite some time. I had spoken with Capt. Ernest Cisneros a few months back when I ran into him in Port Mansfield about a snook fishing trip. He stated that he was on some decent snook right then and tried to entice me down there several times by sending pics through e-mail and numerous "realtime" reports from the water.

It was absolutely driving me crazy. Finally, my old buddy David (WBHB) got the ball rolling by setting up a date with the good captain and forcing me to schedule that day off. Like it really took a lot of arm twisting LOL.

David arrived Tuesday afternoon and in short order we were headed south. We met up with Ernest at the Academy in Brownsville and he had us follow him to his mansion. We met his lovely wife and since we were already exhausted from a long day of either fishing, driving or both, we turned in early.

5:30am rolled around and we anxiously loaded up and headed out the door. We made a quick stop for breakfast tacos and coffee (I discovered that I don't like Chicharrones and chile tacos), and were off to the boat ramp.

Tides were extremely low but we were still able to splash the ShallowSport and headed out in search of the elusive Texas Snook.

Capt. Cisneros at the helm



Our first stop was covered up with skipjacks which were a ton of fun getting our lines stretched first rattle out of the box. Fun, but not what we were after. Our intrepid guide drew first blood with a nice snook on a white/chartreuse TTK2 Jr.



Soon after that, I picked up my first of the day an only my second snook ever on a tequila gold Norton Bull Minnow. I really tried to make it look as big as possible. Do y'all think it worked??? LOL



A little later and I finally got what I was after. I switched to a red/white Super Spook Jr. and was working it slowly along some rip rap when I got a big explosion and instant hook up. The fish pulled very hard and I thought it might be a good trout but was hoping for a snook.

As I pulled her up closer, I saw that tell tale black lateral line and new I had a decent fish for a change. This little beauty taped 20" and was quite the fighter for its size.



David had one of the surprises of the day when he cast into a pod of fleeing bait and his offering was greeted by a hungry mangrove snapper.



The winds were practically non-existent and we slowly worked the bank, probing the dropoff with assorted plastics. Capt. Cisneros said the smaller TTK2's had been doing well and hooked David up with one. Sometimes it pays to listen to the guy that does this all the time. This time it paid off for David as he set the hook on a real fighter. The only way to describe it is a fight with a coked up trout on steroids.

David's tackle got a real workout before this chunk was finally landed. Congrats on your personal best Texas snook.



We moved on to some wade spots and we picked up some very nice trout and redfish all on plastics. I couldn't resist and chunked my old standby morning glory assassin. My reward was this 20" trout which was released unharmed.



Once again Ernest showed why he is the expert in this neck of the woods as he was the first to hook up on a solid redfish followed by the biggest trout of the day, a respectable 23"er (all released).





I managed a redfish that was the twin to Ernest's and a few smaller fish. The winds picked up and we decided we had done what we came to do so it was back to the ramp where I was determined to get the last cast of the day.



It was a fantastic trip with two good friends. I anyone is interested incatching Texas snook, be sure to give Capt. Cisneros a call 956-266-6454 or visit his website www.tightlinescharters.com

I talked to him for a while asking numerous questions about our snook fishery and he says he thinks it is definitely on the upswing. Summer months look to be the best to pick up the really big ones up to 30" and some bigger ones have been sighted.

As always, remember to practice conservation and just keep 5. Later, Aubrey

[Hec fish]

Good report.
Great pics.
_________________
Live to fish.Fish to live!

[Big John at work]

I have heard that the Packery Channel opening back up will help increase the number of snook and tarpon in our area again, as the upper Laguna used to be an important nursery for these fish, and that having the channel open will improve those areas water quality and accessibilty to allow those populations to grow again.

Would be great to have a report like that here! I am too young myself to see all the snook and tarpon they used to take from the waters here before they became over fished. Lets hope they are able to make a good return!

[Joe R]

Do we have deep enough water anywhere that if we have a rough winter our local snook could stick it out or would they head offshore?Did our snook here more than likely move up the surf from down south?

[Big John]

Joe,

If you go to the Bob Hall Pier website, there are old pics of snook being cuaght. I think there are some historical photos on the Port A homepage too, as well as a couple other sites here.

I have seen old photos of my grandfather and his freinds catching really large snook off of North Beach under the Harbor Bridge, and out in the Bay.

There are also a few caught off the Port A Jetties each year. Check the Fishing Page of the Caller Times out online, there is a kid with a nice one pictured there.

As to where they came from or where they went in the winter, I don't know, but we used to have a very large population here in Corpus Christi. I would assume they would go to the same waters our trout population shelters in during the cold weather months.

All I know is it would be really nice to catch a 30" plus snook like they used too. Heck, any snook at all!
_________________
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

[Mike S]

John, for those of you who haven't been fishing the Corpus Christi area for a long time, we still catch snook here. Our population isn't as large as they have in the Brownsville area but the possibility of catching them is pretty good.
I have been fishing for them since the mid 60's and still continue to catch
a pretty good number of them every summer.
I guess like any type of fishing there is a little luck involved, but the again
luck is nothing but timing, preparation and opportunity.
I wouldn't mind showing you how and telling you when you might catch them in this area but as far the where, I can't tell everything then it would be to easy for the other guy. (LOL)

Capt Mike S

[Big John at work]

I'll give you a call Mike. We still need to head out for a day on the water...

[Joe R]

Thanx for the info.I probably would'nt be so interested in snook if these trout around here would mix some leaps in with those head shakes.

[Capt. Ernest]

Big John if you desire to hang a big snook your better chances will come during July thru Sept. But their peak spawning comes during Aug thru Sept in our slow flats, that's when your big ones will be caught. It's not uncommon to see these big snook in schools during these months. That's not to say in the fall thru winter you can't catch a big one. On December 28th we had an outstanding trip with 17 snook caught and released, from 15 to 30 inches. But during this time they are in deeper water. I am glad to say that our snook population down here is ever improving, to where you can target snook and land a few or least you will have a shot at one. If we can strictly practice catch and release we will be in much better shape in the near future.

Best of luck and hope you get that big one.

Capt. Ernest Cisneros