Hillsborough River Snook Fishing?!?

Dumb Fin

I've lived by the Hillsborough river all my life and honestly haven't heard or at least tried to hear someone say its a good fishing river. I'm a saltwater guy but being a young hungry teenager without a drivers license, The river is the closest thing I got. The Lowry park boat ramp is walking distance for me, I've fished it once and didn't have any luck. I think I seen some juvenile tilapia under the dock, worthy for bait? I've been using a DOA Jerk grub. I also went by sulphur springs as I heard it was a good snook spot (my main target fish) but also had no luck. Using mostly the jerk grub that day, I tried out a crankbait and only worked for about 2-3 casts before I got caught in a tree and it dropped in the river with me trying to get it out.

Basically, I'm just a teenager looking for some fish to play catch and release with until spring rolls around and my family and friends will start thinking about heading back out to Ft. Desoto.

Hillsborough river is the closest thing to me and I need to use my resources and study the waters a little more to figure out the trick to these snook i'm hearing about. Any got any advice or knowledge they can spill about the River?

capt louie

The snook will move in when the bay starts getting colder and , yes those small tilapia are good bait.

BTW , welcome aboard !

Dumb Fin

How cold are we talking cause I hit the river about 2-3 times during the last two cold fronts. Water temperature is getting down to like 60 last time I checked and literally the only sign of fish I see are the occasional jumps and tiny ripples in the water. One of the boaters are the boat ramp told me it was mullet.

Dumb Fin

Thank you, I'm glad to be apart of this forum and hopeful to meet some awesome people just like yourself.

FishaHallic

Post this on the West central forum for more responses but I think Capt. Louie is giving good advice.

Dumb Fin

Alright thanks for looking out. I will post it there now.