Snook Fishing ~ a Thrill too Good to Miss

Snook fishing is addictive once you have one at the end of your line.

The common snook is a popular saltwater gamefish commonly sought after by recreational anglers because of its powerful fighting abilities and superb eating qualities.

Distribution

Snook is found along the coasts of Florida and Texas and throughout the West Indies as well as the tropical Pacific.

Identification

Snook has a streamlined body. Its most distinctive feature is the thick, black lateral stripe that runs all the way from the top of its gills to the very end of the forked tail. The back is dark, silver on the sides, and a white belly. The head is flat and the lower jaw is longer than the upper one, and the snook has bristle brush-like teeth; the gill covers are razor-sharp.

Habitat

Snook are found in shallow coastal waters, lagoons, creeks, estuaries and mangrove swamps. As they can tolerate freshwater, sometimes you may find them traveling along rivers and canals, usually at depth of less than 70 feet. They cannot tolerate cold water with temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Diet

The snook’s diet consists of shrimps, small fish and small crabs.

Bait

Live-baits such as small mullet and shrimps can be very successful for snook fishing. Other effective baits are pinfish, sardines, pilchards, and small crabs.

As for fly fishing, use flies that imitate shrimps and small baitfish.

Snook also responds to lures, such as bucktail jigs, small spoons, poppers, soft plastic lures that resemble shrimps and baitfish.

Tackle and Tactics

When fishing around bridges, jetties and docks – all these are snook’s hunting grounds – stout fishing gear is needed. Snook are awesome fighters – they will jump, dive, and run for structural objects to dislodge the hook or cut the line to get free when hooked, which they often succeed are their trade mark.

Use a 7 – 8 foot medium-heavy fast action spinning rod and a good quality matching reel with excellent drag capable of operating under heavy pressure.

For snook fishing braided line of 15 – 25 lbs breaking strains is popular due to its thin diameter -- to get the bait down fast and sensitivity -- feeling the bite. Braid also help to outwit the fish from nasty objects.

Snook is a finicky species, so for leader use a 40—50 lbs fluorocarbon line – fluorocarbon is invisible when submerged in water. Strong hook from1/0 – 3/0 is recommended when you are live-baiting fishing. Live-baits, especially mullet and shrimp are great to tempt a large snook. The fishfinder rig with a small egg sinker placed before the swivel is an effective rig for snook.

Once a fish is hooked, prepare for a dogged run and fight. If you are fishing amongst heavy reefs, pilings or other rough structure, there is not much option to prevent cut-off other than to use sheer, brute strength to muscle the fish to friendly water. Catching and landing a snook, especially a big one is a touch-and-go affair – either the fish or the angler’s win – often the fish!

Snook fishing is a heart-stumping experience you will never forget if a monster snook is hooked on the end of your line. This is a fish that is just too good to miss. Beware you will get hooked!

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