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"Snook".

One of the nice things about fishing in different waters is that you are never quite sure what you might catch. After we had landed a few bonefish from a particular stretch of beach I went back, a few days later, to fish it on my own expecting 'more of the same'. As it turned out I was surprised by the outcome but not disappointed.

I left my gear on the beach with my wife who was enjoying the sunshine. It's a real bonus not having to carry my heavy bag around while I'm fishing. I began to cast the little shallow diving plug and third cast there was a big swirl near the water's edge. The distinctive shape of a fantastic snook (certainly the biggest I'd ever seen) appeared just behind the lure. The water was gin clear and the fish was almost at my feet so I saw the entire episode. The snook grabbed the plug and as it did so it hurled itself into the air with its head shaking frantically. The plug flew out of its mouth, the snook crashed back into the water and away it swam. I was gutted.

After I'd stopped shaking I continued to fish, hoping that there might be a similar fish nearby but fearing that I'd had my chance for the session. Anyway, on this occasion I was lucky. As I made my way along the shore the water gradually became cloudier and more 'snooky'. No more than ten minutes after the first attack there was a snatch and I found myself attached to another snook. This one was a lot smaller than the one that had come unstuck but it was still a nice fish. The snook made a couple of runs and characteristically, jumped wildly with it's gill covers flaring and head shaking. When it was tiring I led it back along the beach to where my wife was sitting with the camera.

Lilian took a picture and I returned the fish before continuing with my fishing. Twenty minutes later I had a second snook, bigger than the one I had returned but nowhere near the size of the escapee. They really are wonderful fish with their yellow fins, brassy scales and bold black lateral line. Of course the snook weren't the bonefish that I was after but who could be disappointed at catching them?

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you.'get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

Snook!

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Got it!

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Lovely fish.

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Coney.

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