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Find Your Snook Of A Lifetime

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mike Anderson, right, with "Reel Animals" partner Billy Nobles.

If you have never had the opportunity to catch a big beach snook in June, I suggest a trip to Charlotte Harbor and a charter with captain Ozzie Fischer.

Billy and I were fortunate to have an opportunity to do so this week. We were filming an episode of "Reel Animals" with Ozzie, and we could not have had better results. Ozzie opened our morning with a 39-inch, 20-pound bruiser.

The fish were stacked on a shoreline on the north end of Captiva. Billy and Ozzie were putting on an absolute clinic, and they were making sure I knew it. Both of them caught and released several fish in the 10- to 12-pound range. I could only manage a couple of 25- to 26-inch fish.

Reaching in the live well, I found a large pinfish and decided that if I was going to top Ozzie's beast I'd need to bring out the big bait. Almost immediately, I had a fish on.

I knew instantly that it was one of the largest snook I have ever hooked, and it ran for at least 100 yards. My heart was beating like it was going to jump out of my chest. When we finally landed the fish, it was 40 inches long and weighed 23 pounds. It was truly an awesome experience.

The beach is a great place to finally land the big one, because so many of us often hook these fish in heavy cover. Docks, bridges and mangrove shorelines can make for some broken hearts. This is prime time to hit the beaches of Central Florida looking for your fish of a lifetime.

Catch captains Billy Nobles and Mike Anderson on the "Reel Animals Fishing Show" on Saturdays from 6:30-7 a.m. on WFLA, Channel 8, and on Sundays from 8-10 a.m. on WHBO, 1470 AM. To book a charter, call 1-866-GAMEFISH or visit www.reelanimalsfishing

show.com.

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