Went Scouting for the William R. Mote Snook Shindig

[mosquito13]

  The Snook Shindig is this coming weekend. mote.org/events/details/2019-william-r.-mote-memorial-snook-shindig  Gearing up and scouting for the tournament this week. Buddy on Srq New Pass is lending me his dock and bait pens for the event so close to Mote Marine location. Yes will be using live bait for this one. . .This a keep every snook you catch and keep them alive tournament . Special permit from FFWC for one night issued to all participants. 
   So borrowed a 50 gal. live well(wow did that screw with the boats float, no skinny water for me).   Last year used the built in rear livewell and killed a 32" 17" and a 19" snook even with full flow on... I also worked on my weighted led green light . 36 volt with 75' of weighted wire that plugs in my trolling motor plug. There are a couple choke points between some mangrove islands that have good water flow.  I want to see if the light will be beneficial to place. Fishing with that Wed. Hope it works got about $100 and 6 hours invested in building that light.

This morning hit Big Pass and the Siesta Key lighted docks. Boated 15 snook and two reds in three hours on the water. I am planning on fishing the falling tide for the tournament so fishing that tide this week in prep. . All fish last night were caught on Yo-Zuri Crystal 3d 3 1/2" shrimp with or whitebait in 3-4" on circle hook and drifted or cast into docks .  I was lightly chumming with culled and stunned white bait at each dock.

If you have never fished a tournament I recommend trying it. Really forces me to raise my game in boat handling and fishing techniques.  

[985crabs]

Good luck. Post up some photos.

[Juan]

WOW. 15 sideliners in three hours is awesome. I wish we had snook in the panhandle!! Good luck. emthup

[mosquito13]

 Tournament is the same night as the CCA banquet and most of the areas Captains are going to that. Really bad planning on Mote and CCA. They are on the same side of the fight, you'd think they would communicate on event dates. Looks like I am fishing this solo, my regular partner is taking his girlfriend out on his boat. She took second in the ladies division last year and is hungry for first. Will try to get some pics of the weigh in . As to the 15 and 2 in three I cheated using live bait and chumming. But I too am going in with the attitude I can win this one ,especially with all the local heavy hitters going to the CCA banquet and it's open bar.

[mosquito13]

Missed the captains meeting so was not able to register any catches. My buddies wife got #1`female and 3rd overall fisherperson, she made the meeting. He wasn't able to fish either as out getting bait... Lesson learned read all tournament rules before a tournament(all anglers were required to sign a waiver in front of FF&W officer at the Cpt. meeting) . Like I said everyone I fish raises my game. Only one of Motes tagged snook were caught that night. Biggest was 32". Windy night. I fished for a couple hours but did not stay late enough (after 3 am) to catch the good outgoing tide.

[985crabs]

That's a real shame. Oh well, you'll get 'em next time.