Bonefish - Permit - Tarpon - Barracuda - Snook

Snook

IGFA Record 55 lbs.

Average Weight 5 - 30 lbs.

The Common Snook ranges around the Gulf of Mexico and is found at some large Caribbean islands. In Florida, along shallow mangrove estuaries, the Common Snook can be taken with topwater darting plugs. Its a spectacular surface game, with exploding water when a big Snook is hooked. Along similar brackish areas in Belize and Honduras, the fish is targeted with diving swimmers and in Costa Rica, anglers use jigs and deep running plugs.

FLY EQUIPMENT & TACKLE

Snook need stopping power from a 10 or even 12-weight rod although smaller snook can be taken on 7 to 9-weight fly outfits,. Make sure the fly rod can dead-lift at least 8 pounds. Most salt water fly rods have settled into the 9-foot length. Shorter rods don't reach required casting distances, and longer models give too much leverage to the fish. Fly reels for Snook include most salt water models that are designed for 10 to 12-weight work, including the Penn 2.5 International and those by Ross, Fin-Nor, and Islander. Use strong leaders and back the fly line with 30-lb dacron for larger fish. Snook are difficult to control and break tippets in mangrove roots and other underwater obstructions. The same flies that take stripers will interest Snook, from bushy deer-hair sliders to sinking versions. Colors should match natural baitfish-- small mullet, cigar minnows, silversides-- or approximate a local shrimp. Good fly patterns incorporate yellow, white, green, silver, and brown, all with a touch of red.

CONVENTIONAL & SPINNING EQUIPMENT & TACKLE

Snook can be caught with stronger rods, 6 1/2 to 7 feet, rated as Heavy Salt Water Casting. Rods should be able to handle lines from 20 to 30-lb test. Reels that match these heavier rods include the Penn 940 and the Ambassadeur 6500C. Spinning gear normally used for stripers and bluefish will be adequate for most Snook. Good reels include the Shimano Spirex SR400 and the Penn 650SS, both holding a quantity of 20-lb mono. Rods in the same length as conventional casting models will fill the bill. Snook are famous for crashing topwater plugs. The old Heddon Spook, L & S MirrOlure Floater and the Excalibur Super Spook are excellent lures. Colors should match local baits, good choices being red/yellow, silver, gold, green/yellow, and chartreuse. All of these top-water plugs work well from Florida to Belize. South of Belize, from Honduras to Costa Rica, fishermen depend more and more upon deep-diving plugs. The local waters are often murky and Snook tend to remain deep, feeding upon benthic fare as well as minnows. Small 1 oz jigs are the favored baits along the East Coast of Costa Rica, replaced by 1 1/2 oz versions if large Snook are found. The standard jig has a traditional flat-sided head and is dressed with white or yellow bucktail. Plastic worms and grubs, bright and obnoxious, make ideal jig sweeteners.