Snook shark

The last day of our Sanibel Island vacation was spent with cocktails and a line out in the trough. Bait was the heads and some attached entrails of a gulf kingfish I caught earlier in the day. A few cocktails passed and no action so I got up to check my line. I was setup with an 8/0 Gam octopus hook, about 2 feet of 26 lb. 7 strand knottable wire. As soon as I touched the rod a little line payed out. I cranked down the drag and the fish started to run. A couple of good hooks sets to be sure and the fight was on. There was enough surf to make it hard to see, I was expecting a shark but was surprised by the biggest snook I have ever hooked. It was exciting to have an audience and not screw up. I landed the 32" fish, lots of good pics and a video. Here is my favorite.

Here is a pic of a typical fly rod fish from the trip. This is one of a few pics taken by a random beach walker. On the first evening of fishing not much was happening until another random beach walker pointed out a couple of snook that were practically beaching themselves while chasing minnows about a cast and half away. Two casts and I had my first snook of 2013!