Snook season opening Sunday

The recreational open season on snook opens Sunday, and will remain open through April.

Limits are one snook per angler, daily, between 28 and 33 inches.

Although water temperatures have been around 63 in the morning, and generally warming to 68 in the afternoon, which is cold for snook, the linesiders reportedly are a decent target.

Capt. Jason Ramsey even caught snook in 62 degrees in the morning. But, of course, we all aren't professional fishing captains, so for the average angler, catching that keeper snook will not be an easy task.

To give yourself the best chance, spot the snook before you motor over them. Snook will scatter in a hurry and typically will not bite once you have shown them your presence. If you can use a push pole and creep in on them, you may have a chance. Snook are scattered in various areas of the flats, including Terra Ceia Bay and Miguel Bay.

Currently, anglers can use shrimp, or a shrimp threaded on a Carolina rig, for example, if the snook are lying at the bottom. Artificials that imitate a shrimp (Berkley Gulp baits, D.O.A. shrimp) or any artificials can work. Small pinfish have been doing the trick as well from this area south to Boca Grande. Soon, however, once white bait becomes thick in the spring, snook will primarily be feeding on white bait. So get handy with a cast net if you're not already.

Also, with the current clear-water conditions, consider using as light of lines as possible. On the flats, where there is no structure, anglers may be able to get away with 15-pound test line. But 20-pound test strength is recommended, with a 20-to-25-pound leader. Around structure add at least 10 pounds of line strength to both of those.

Finally, snook are nocturnal feeders, so if an anglers can catch them at night, all the better. Bridges in the Manatee River have long been great for snook. Bring the coffee.

Snook populations are as robust as ever, thanks in part to the strict regulations, and in the end, in can only benefit anglers with those line-raking runs.

Cortez Fish Festival a success

Once again, the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival lured thousands of seafood, fishing, and people lovers to the backstreets of the Cortez Fishing Village.

I went on Sunday, and had to get some smoked mullet prepared by Rick Gullett, and honestly it was the best I had ever had. Dip the mullet in a little gator sauce and I was feeling Old Cortez.

It was incredible to see how many people turned out, and from so many states. They came out to listen to live music, eat from a supreme variety of seafood, and smell the saltwater from north Sarasota Bay.

Thanks again to everyone who put on the event, and to A.P. Bell and Star Fish Co. for allowing themselves to be at the center of the mayhem.

I'm sure we all look forward to it next year.

Parking for Cortez Fish Festival

In response to a reader's comment, here's some more information on parking at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

There are two off-site spots at Coquina Beach and Sugg Middle School on 59th Street West. Shuttle buses will run from both of those locations.

Other than that, you can park right in the village if you get there early enough, or across from Sunny Shores on Cortez Road.

Also, there's a huge parking lot at the Fish Preserve on 114th Street off Cortez Road, although there's no street sign.

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival Upcoming

Seafood, Old Florida - the essence of the old-time Cortez fishing village - is soon upon us.

On Feb. 21 and 22 the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival returns to Cortez, and typically hundreds fill the blocked-off streets for a sort of seafood carnival. OK, forget hundreds - the average attendance for the two days is 20,000.

Smoked mullet is of course a staple, and almost every type of seafood imaginable will be for sale.

Boats, fishing gear, and old fish houses will be around for this rare taste of the spirit of Cortez. There's always plenty of outdoors items for sale, from small signs and magnets to clothing and paintings.

As it is every year in this third week of February, the festival is properly based around A.P. Bell and the Starfish Co.

To get to the village, hit Cortez Road and, heading west, take a left on 124th St. Ct.

For more information, and more detailed directions, visit http://fishnews.org/festival/.