SNOOK CLOSURE NEARING: Anglers who would like to take home a snook have only two more weeks until the summer closure, May 1 through Aug. 31. The best bet is likely to be around the larger sloughs, outside passes and along the beaches, where the fish will be moving as the spawning season nears.

Live scaled sardines are by far the top bait, and these are free-lined on size 1/0 hooks, typically on 10- to 15-pound spinning tackle.

The beach at Anclote Key, Fort DeSoto, Egmont Key, Anna Maria and Longboat are good places to try, as are holes and sloughs around Bishop Harbor, Cockroach Bay, Double Branch and Rocky Creek, all inside Tampa Bay. The slot limit is 28 to 33 inches, bag limit one per day.