Reel Fishing: Spillway Fishing with Capt. Danny Barrow

Written by staff | 10 December 2011

Capt. Danny Barrow with one of the many thousands of snook he's had the pleasure of catching.

He just might be.  This week we go Spillway Snook Fishing with Capt. Jon Brett of Fish Buzz TV,  fishing the Lake Worth area with Capt. Danny. Both Jon and Danny are on the board of Directors of the Snook and Gamefish Foundation.

SGF: What tackle, line and leader are best for spillway snook fishing?

CDB: When fishing a spillway be sure to use equipment that will allow you to quickly reel 'em in.  The idea is to not tire the fish to the point you won’t have a healthy release.  I match my gear to the type of baits or style of lures I am using as well as the size of snook I am targeting.  When targeting small snook, 6 to 15 lbs., I use a 7' 10" Loomis Spinning Rod and Shimano 3000 series spin cast reel and 10 lb. braided line with 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader.  When targeting larger snook, I use a 7'  Loomis MUR-844C rod with a Shimano Calcutta 400 reel, 65 lb. braided line and 40 to 60 lb. fluorocarbon leader.

Capt. Danny, you don't use a net in the video to land snook - why not?

CDB: I have landed thousands of snook with my hands.  I like to do it that way because it allows me to remove the hook or hooks while the fish remains mostly in the water.  Nets can stress the skin of the fish and hooks almost always get wrapped up in them. I believe that the fewer moves I have to make while handling the fish, the better the odds are of a healthy fish when it’s released. I’d say 9 out of 10 of all the snook I catch are not removed from the water. Pictures with the fish held in the horizontal position where the fish is only out of the water less than a minute is ok. Remember to handle them carefully, like your best girlfriend.

SGF: Capt. Danny, why are you recording the fish you catch at AnglerAction.Org?

CDB: As Professional Fishing Guide and recreational angler I’m aware that it has become important   to make sure that the decisions that are being made about our gamefish are made with the most reliable data available.  We recreational anglers are the only people who can produce the data on our personal fishing trips. By working together and pooling our fishing information collectively on all our own trips, in every part of the state, we can then assure that the rules and regulations being made are being based on the most reliable data available. When you and I add our fishing trip catch and release information to the Angler Action data base, we make sure researchers create the best stock assessments.

SGF: Are you the top Snook Guide in the State?

CDB: That's a pretty tall order  I have landed thousands of snook in my long career but  I won't make that claim. There are some great Snook Guides and some recreational anglers out there that can give me a run for the money, I still have teachers. The truth is Snook fishing is what I do so I’m confident, I make the  preparation, I know what the conditions are and I have persistence and passion. I believe It's  what it takes to do my job, I like to think I give my clients 100%.

SGF note: Capt. Danny Barrow leads the snook record. As far as the Angler Action Program goes, hands down, no one who snook fishes has more snook catches  than Capt. Danny Barrow.  While there are those that can legitimately make claim to be top snook anglers, Danny leaves little doubt that he is all that; the record speaks for itself.  He records the highest number of snook and you can see the photo record here http://www.gosnookfishing.com/photogallery.htm . The Challenge is on, who's the Mack Daddy of snook fishing.  Record your catch at www.angleraction.org. and lets see.  One, two, three, GO!

For more on Danny Barrow or to Charter a half or full day trip visit, Danny Barrow's Site.