LIGHT FANTASTIC
Snook are a whole new saltwater experience when lure fishing
Snook are a whole new lure experience.
The common snook undoubtedly ranks as one of the great light-tackle species of saltwater sports fish, and I love fishing for snook, they are one of my favourite species. Of the eight species of snook, the common (Centropomus undecimalis) is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the coast of the North Carolina to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Occasionally caught in the open sea, common snook favour estuaries and lagoons. They are often found in fresh water and I have caught them when fishing 120 miles from the open sea, at San Carlos on the Rio San Juan, in Nicaragua.
FINDING FISH
Locating snook is invariably about finding suitable habitat, namely structure. From time to time you’ll encounter a snook cruising in open water or almost dormant in the surfline on sandy beaches, but more likely than not you need to find features that hold fish. The more inaccessible the structure, the more likely it will be to hold snook.
Mangrove roots are the classic snook habitat, where fish have an annoying habit of lying in sight, but just far enough back amid the tangle of barnacle-covered roots to be utterly unreachable with a bait or lure, especially at high tide. Piers, jetties, old docks and pilings, submerged rock piles, overhanging or fallen trees lying in jungle rivers or blown ashore by hurricanes – all of these make excellent habitat for snook.
At times, I have seen upwards of a dozen fish lying quietly amid the tangle of roots of a relatively small bush. The mouth of any river, creek or narrow pass opening up to the sea is another great place to locate snook.
LIVE BAITS BEST
Snook are carnivorous, with a diet dominated by smaller fish and crustaceans. They can be caught on any angling method, but small, livebaits are deadly, especially when you have sufficient bait to be able to loosefeed a few in order to induce them to take, in the process drawing laid-up fish away from structure.
Live prawns, widely available at tackle shops throughout Florida, are deadly. Almost any lure can be used effectively, especially top-water walk-the-dog lures, and poppers. Diving lures can be very effective in deeper water, especially if trolling.
Self-weighted soft plastic shads and bucktail jigs are both highly effective for snook. As a rule of thumb, any lure you would use for bass in the UK will be perfect for snook. The same goes for the rod and reel.
A snook does not have teeth, but has very rough pads inside its mouth, along with seriously sharp cutting edges on its gill plates. For this reason, a shock tippet of about 40lb hard monofilament or fluorocarbon is essential.
One key piece of advice I would offer is that as soon as a fish strikes, set the hook and immediately pull hard using the rod to physically force the fish’s head in the direction of open water. Like almost all fish, snook cannot swim backwards. Unless you quickly get them facing snag-free water, the fish will almost always swim directly for cover, with inevitable results.
TOP LOCATIONS
Of all of the glamour species of sport fishing, snook are perhaps the easiest to successfully target on a self-guided basis, which make them perfect for the angler on holiday.
If you are located almost anywhere in the Caribbean you’ll likely find good snook fishing nearby, especially if you fish at dawn or at night.
The species is abundant throughout southern Florida, where local tackle shop staff will be able to tell you where you can fish.
You must have a rod licence to fish in the sea in the USA. If caught fishing without one, the fines are considerable.
There are seasons when snook can and cannot be taken, along with strictly enforced bag limits and both a minimum and maximum size limit, which can vary from county to county within the same state, so check.
The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and any of the smaller Windward and Leeward Islands all have snook. All of these destinations are offered as package holidays by UK travel agents, and are perfect for a family holidays during which you can fish either by yourself or with a local guide.
The very best snook fishing is found along the coast and within the many jungle rivers and lagoons located throughout Central
America, notably in Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. Honduras has a great snook fishery along the Mosquito Coast, but currently is unsafe to fish. The IGFA record is held with a snook that weighed 53lb 10oz, caught in Costa Rica in 1978.
There are many excellent fishing lodges located in each of these countries, complete with superb guides who specialise in snook, and tarpon. I host trips to several lodges throughout Central America, contact Anglers World Holidays (01246 221717). ■