Author: Albert Acosta

Want to catch more snook and bigger ones? Well I’m going to give you some pointers to help you catch more snook and have a great chance of catching a trophy snook. One of my favorite types of fishing in Florida is snook fishing, there is something about fishing at night under the stars and moon that make it special. Snook are fantastic ambush hunters and excel at night time foraging. Anytime I have a chance while I’m in Key Largo I do some night time snook fishing. So not to long ago my brother David and my little nephew Carlito decided to head out again and do some night time snook fishing. As the sun was going down we prepared our gear and made our Bullbuster 40lb floro leaders and loaded up our bait and gear. So I’m goin to go through 4 main point to help you catch more and bigger snook, 1-Bait, 2-Structure, 3-Tides, and 4-Tackle. So let’s begin.
The Bait
There are a lot of different baits you can choose to go after snook. Some people just fish for them with artificial and that is fine and they catch many and some big ones with out a doubt. But when I go after snook there is one bait that I choose above them all...the little and plentiful shrimp. Everything eats shrimp and snook love shrimp. Before I head out I always stop and pick up about 5-6 dozen live shrimp. I ask for medium to large ones if possible. A snook is not going to pass up a shrimp floating by as they are waiting to ambush their prey...they are just not going to do it. They are voracious feeders of shrimp especially when the shrimp are running. I use small jig 1/4 oz to 1/8 oz size 2 or 3 hook with the live shrimp. This is a deadly combination and you will catch many snook and some really big ones. Now I do love to use pinfish or mojara as well and these are deadly on snook to. It just depends what you want to use that night and what is available.
The Structure
The Tides

The Tackle

Snook have very sharp gill plates and will tear through fishing lines and floro if you do not use a strong enough floro leader. I have found that 40-50lb floro will hold up very well when dealing with these fish. Snook when hooked will most often make hard runs at first heading for structure like docks, bridge pillings and other items...if you are not ready with good braid and floro they will destroy you. They are very smart and the big ones even smarter...they know where to go to get themselves free. You need stopping power with great fishing line and floro and a good reel with great drag to stop that fish. A snook fight especially a big one is like no other fish...they make hard runs, jumps, and digs towards the bottom, and viscious head shakes. They will put you to the test and your tackle. When setting up for a snook fishing excursion always prepare like the BIG ONE is coming...that way you will be ready. Double check your hooks, line, floro , and especially your drag so its ready to stop that run to the pillings or other structure.
These four areas I covered I hope will help you catch more snook and bigger ones! So the last snook trip with my brother and little nephew resulted in some awesome snook night time action. My brother landed several nice snook on the live shrimp with jigs and we were getting steady action as the tide was going out. Then the Big Moma hit! The hit was viscious and a hard run followed by head shakes gills flared up and heading for the pillings! I pulled back on my rod and tightened the drag and held on for dear life and I was able to stop her before she entered the land of no return. A few head shakes and more runs and I had her boat side. My brother scooped her up in the net and I was thrilled! It was my PB snook a 38” monster shadow stalker snook! We took some pics and I let her go back to her night lair to hunt another day. And that’s what it’s all about prepare and study then fish... the big one will come. Remember Spend More Time Fishing! See you next time.


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