South Florida is best for snook
5/26/2004 11:04:28 AM by
Snook are found throughout Florida, but the best fishing is in South Florida.
They look like a cross between a bass and a tarpon. They have the underslung lower jaw like tarpon, but are thick in the middle like bass.
When it comes to fighting, snook are also like bass and tarpon as strong fighters that do a lot of jumping when hooked.
Snook are one of the best tasting gamefish and are accessible to practically everyone. You don't even need a boat to catch them.
Snook love shallow waters and mang roves. They haunt the shallow water a round and under the roots of the mang roves, and can be found in canals, at the mouths of freshwater creeks, along jetties, under bridges -- generally anywhere there is cover. They are rarely found in open water.
The tide is important in catching snook. When fishing shorelines (mang roves), the incoming tide is the best time. At the mouths of creeks and lagoons, the outgoing tide is best.
Tackle should be fairly stout. Spinning or casting tackle in the 12- to 20-pound range is good. Leaders should be monofilament in the 50-pound test r a n g e .
For natural bait fishing, a short shanked No. 3/0 or 4/0 hook is good.
Live shrimp is great for snook, but they will hit live minnows (pilchard s , herring, mullet, goggle eyes) and even take cut bait once in a while.
Most experienced snook fishermen, however, cast artificial lures to the edges of mangroves, bridge abutments, shallow wrecks, or any natural underwater refuge. Smaller (1/2 ounce) floating l u res that dive when retrieved are a good bet, although many anglers prefer straight top-water lures.
Any lure should be the same color as the local baitfish. The lure should dart and dive and zig-zag, and the re t r i e v a l should be moderately fast.
Snook are very moody fish. They may go crazy after a bait or lure one moment and, five minutes later, not touch the same thing. About the only thing consistent with snook is they feed better at night.
When fishing for snook, be pre p a re d to muscle the fish away from the cover it will seek when hooked. This means plenty of drag on the reel and quick reflexes at the strike.
Most snook that are lost after the strike because they cut the line on an underwater obstruction.
Snook are protected by law. The season is closed during January and February, and again during June, July and August. A fisherman must have a snook stamp attached to his fishing license to legally take them, and they must be at least two feet long but not more than 34 inches in length.
Spring (April and May) is the best time of year to catch snook. They can be caught just about anywhere in the coastal waters of Florida, but steady producing places are:
* Florida Bay (between extreme South Florida and the Keys). The
Flamingo a rea is noted for the best all-around fishing for the entire
year.
* Fort Lauderdale -- Jetties aro u n d Port Everg l a d e s .
* Naples (10,000 Islands area) -- Ve r y good in the spring.
* West Palm Beach -- Especially good when mullet are aro u n d .
* Sebastian Inlet -- Noted for big snook in the spring.
* Stuart -- Best in the fall.
Reprinted from The Miami Herald's South Florida Outdoor Guide.