If you love fishing and live in Florida, chances are you know about snook fish. In this article, I’ll tell you about the best bait for catching snook and what to do before eating them. These fish are unique because of their appearance and their great taste. Many people believe they are the best-tasting fish in Florida.
This fishing species are a symbol of Florida’s rich coastal fishing culture. They also remind us to care for our environment. They are slim and sleek, growing between 1 and 4 feet long. Their color, which ranges from silvery-green to gray, helps them blend into their coastal homes.
What sets them apart is the line that runs from behind their gills to their tail. This line looks like a black stripe and stands out compared to other fish. They have large mouths, with the bottom part sticking out more than the top.
Snook have two large, sharp fins on their backs and a slightly forked tail, helping them swim fast. They also have a sloping forehead, making them look different from other fish. They are strong hunters, designed for speedy and effective hunting in the coastal waters they live in.
Eating Snook
Now, let’s talk about why people love to eat snook. The meat is white, somewhat firm, yet tender. This makes it really delicious. Many people in Florida enjoy catching snook and grilling it when it’s in season.
But remember, if you’re cooking snook, you should take off the skin. The fish might not taste as good if you leave it on. Grilling the fish is a favorite cooking method because it gives the fish a smoky taste. Using some citrus and spices for a marinade can make the fish taste even better.
But snook is not just good to eat. It also reminds us to be careful about overfishing. By following the rules, we can enjoy catching and eating them without worrying about them disappearing.
Best Bait
Anglers in Florida and beyond appreciate the challenge and reward of snook fishing. With its agile moves, fighting spirit, and great taste, snook are a top target in Florida’s inshore fishing. But to catch snook, you need to know the best bait.
Understanding the snook’s diet is key in choosing the right bait. Snook are opportunistic predators that eat a variety of sea life, including small fish like mullet, pinfish, sardines, crustaceans, and even small land animals that end up in the water.
Some of the best baits for snook are live and move like their natural prey, attracting them from far away.
Pinfish: Pinfish are tough and strong, making them great bait for snook. Hook them through the nose or back for the best results.
Mullet: Small mullet are hard for snook to resist, especially in the fall when there are many mullets.
Shrimp: Big live shrimp is another bait that snook love. You can let them swim freely or use them to float in waters with a strong current.
Sardines and Pilchards: When used live, these small fish can attract snook.
Even though live bait works well, artificial lures are popular because they’re easy to use and versatile.
Plastic Shrimp and Minnow Imitations: Plastic lures that look like shrimp or small minnows can work well, especially when bounced off the bottom.
Spoons: Spoons are a classic bait that mimics the movement and flash of small baitfish, which snook find hard to resist.
Plugs: Floating and diving plugs that look like injured baitfish can attract a lot of snook.
No matter what bait you choose, remember that successful fishing isn’t just about the bait. It’s also about how you present it because snook are smart and very picky about their food. Try to make your bait move like their natural prey as much as possible. Also, consider the tide and time of day, as snook tend to eat more during outgoing tides.
Whether you’re using live or artificial bait, remember that patience, practice, and following fishing rules and seasons are all part of the experience. With the right bait choices and some fishing know-how, you’ll have a better chance of catching this valuable fish on your next Florida fishing trip.
The best times to catch snook in Florida are during the warmer months, usually from late spring to early fall. They are particularly active during that time of year because it’s their breeding season. Also, times around high tides, especially at dawn and dusk, are the best feeding times.
Outgoing tides are also known to be great times. You can also find snook along the Sebastian Riverfront.
Florida Snook
Florida snook is some of the state’s most loved game fish. They’re famous for their aggressive nature, intense fights, and unique look. They can get pretty big, with some reaching nearly 50 inches long and weighing more than 30 pounds. The biggest one ever caught in Florida weighed 44 pounds and 3 ounces in Ft. Myers. The world record was in Costa Rica, weighing 53 pounds and 10 ounces.
Florida has four types of snook: Common snook, Small-scaled fat snook, Large-scaled fat snook, and Swordspine snook. But the Common snook is the one you’ll see the most and the one that fishermen want to catch the most.
Snook are tropical fish that like water temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re more active at night, so you might catch more if you fish after sunset.
Snook live in different places like mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, beach coastlines, and freshwater rivers. You can often see them in the brackish waters of the Indian River Lagoon. They are ambush predators, which means they hide and wait for their prey, then attack quickly.
You’ll need a strong rod and reel when fishing for snook because of the fish’s size and strength. It’s important to remember to handle them carefully when you catch them. Always support their belly when lifting and gently release them back into the water to ensure they survive.
Sebastian Inlet State Park is a dream place for people who love fishing snook. This spot is famous for having a lot of active snook, particularly around the park’s shallow waters near docks and rocky areas. Around the inlet, snook like real bait, such as pinfish and mullet, and fake ones that look like small fish or shrimp.
The park has two jetties, North Jetty and South Jetty, offering lots of space for fishing. Sebastian Inlet is known for its diverse fish types, making every fishing trip a new adventure.
Before heading to the inlet, remember to read our Sebastian Inlet Fishing Report. We refresh it every week with all the info you need.
Snook Rules
In the early 1900s, when more people moved to Florida, the state had to make laws to stop snook from disappearing due to too much fishing. In 1957, the state government introduced rules to prevent people from buying or selling snook.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, enforces this law to keep the snook safe. Anglers can only catch snook in certain Atlantic waters twice yearly – from December 15th to January 31st and June 1st to August 31st. The 2023 Atlantic Snook season will start again on September 1st. And, there’s no business fishing for snook.
During the season, the snook you catch must be between 28 and 32 inches in total length. You can only keep one snook daily; the boat’s captain and crew on fishing charters can’t catch any. In the off-season, you can only do “catch-and-release,” which means catching and letting the fish go immediately.
These closed periods match the spawning season in the Atlantic, a crucial part of their life. These rules keep the snook population healthy. By following these rules, anglers help ensure we have snook now and in the future.
So, when you’re out catching snook, remember to follow the FWC’s rules. But most importantly, remember that you’re helping keep this particular fish around for future anglers.
