Florida Fishing Guide Service

Snook

Snook is probably our most sought after gamefish. Snook make a powerful run and they jump higher than bass. They most certainly will try to cut you off on a mangrove root. Snook like to range all over our estuaries and beaches. Large snook will inhabit near shore wrecks and rock piles. Because snook are a sub tropical species, they are water temperature sensitive. Water temperature will in many cases dictate where you might find them.

Snook may be caught year round. In the winter, they will migrate deep into the brackish water of the backcountry. Some snook are believed to move offshore. When the water gets very cold, snook will all but disappear. The optimum time for snook fishing is spring through fall. They will reach over thirty pounds in size but two to ten pounds are the size of fish that you are more likely to catch. I like to use live scaled sardines to fish for snook. Live bait is your best bet but they love to strike plugs and jigs of all shapes and sizes. Snook will hit a top water plug and leave a hole in the water the size of a five-gallon bucket.

Snook will cruise or lay motionless in a shallow bay or on the beach. This is when sight fishing for them with a flyrod is best. I use eight weight flyrods for the most part. I like to use streamer type flies. I tie my flies to imitate the baitfish in the area. Light jigs with the proper presentation will work for sightfishing snook as well. Don't be upset if you hook into a redfish, jack, or trout while trying for a snook.