| A lot of people think that you have to have a | | | | be any fish. But I have learned that if mullet are |
| boat to fish, especially to fish for snook. This is | | | | there, then snook have no problem being there |
| just not true. I have spent the last 5 to 6 years | | | | either. Remember mullet are a primary part of |
| fishing for snook on shore. I have also fished for | | | | their food base. |
| them in a boat, but I have found out that I am | | | | The key to all of this is to open your eyes and |
| more successful when fishing for snook from | | | | look at the environment. You may find a property |
| shore. | | | | that you know would be a great fishing spot. Try |
| The trick is to know where they will be; I have | | | | to find out who owns the property, and then call |
| found over the years to look in the places that | | | | them for permission. You may even offer to help |
| other people just go right by. In the summer | | | | keep the lot or property clean for them, which is |
| months, for instance, when the water | | | | a small price to pay for a great fishing spot. |
| temperature is in the 80's, you will find a lot of | | | | I have many spots I fish and tend to not stay at |
| snook cruising the beaches. I have watched | | | | any one of them for very long. For one reason, I |
| people fishing from the beaches in hopes of | | | | use lures and cover a lot of area in a short time. |
| catching a big snook, but they fail to realize that | | | | Another reason is that I don't want people to see |
| the snook are right in front of them. They are so | | | | me catching fish. They're my spots. Every spot |
| focused on casting their bait as far out as they | | | | that I like to fish is a little different than the next; |
| can, and the snook are only feet off the beach. I | | | | this gives me a wide variety to choose from, and |
| also have seen where someone is fishing on one | | | | depending on the weather I can usually find fish. |
| side of a sandbar and the fish are just sitting on | | | | My best day so far is over 40 snook in one day. |
| the other side. The truth is, these people did not | | | | Actually, I stopped counting at 40. All of them |
| do their homework. They heard somewhere that | | | | were caught on shore. I catch at least 2 or 3 |
| they can catch snook off the beach so they | | | | good-sized snook every time I go out, but those |
| went and got some fishing gear and some bait | | | | are on bad days! |
| and think that's all there is to it. If you have tried | | | | So to recap, there are a few things that snook |
| to fish for snook, you know that there is a bit | | | | prefer. Look for areas with structure (bridges, |
| more to it than that. Not to say that you won't | | | | mangrove islands, oyster beds, docks, & locks), a |
| catch one, just not on a regular basis. | | | | current (even in shallow water), and schools of |
| In this article I hope to open your eyes some, to | | | | mullet. These will be great fishing spots. Don't limit |
| look a little differently at the waters around you. | | | | yourself to the places that have a sign saying |
| You may find that you have been passing up | | | | 'fishing allowed.' |
| some really great fishing spots. | | | | The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the |
| I'd like to show you that you can save a lot of | | | | right signs - They're out there. Just remember to |
| money by fishing on shore. No more money | | | | respect the signs that say 'no trespassing'. |
| spent on fuel, wasted time trying to find a boat | | | | Tackle |
| launch that still has parking, or getting back tired | | | | The farther you can cast, the more coverage |
| after a long day on the water and still having to | | | | you will have when fishing on shore, so your |
| rinse the boat down and clean it. | | | | setup needs to be focused on being able to make |
| Looking for spots | | | | long casts. I personally use a 6 ½ - 7' rod |
| When I drive down the road I am always looking | | | | (Shimano Compre), with medium-heavy to heavy |
| for a spot to fish. If I am driving down the beach, | | | | action. Always use a good spinning reel (I use the |
| I'll look for vacant lots and dead end roads that | | | | Shimano Symetre 4000FJ), with 15 to 20 pound |
| have access to the water. I will look for parks | | | | Power Pro line and 30 lbs fluorocarbon leader tied |
| that are on the water. Sometimes I'll find a place, | | | | directly to the braided line. You do not want your |
| and while I am fishing there, I'll see another good | | | | leader to be over 2 feet long because it will drag |
| spot across the water. | | | | the front of your plug down. Shorten the leader |
| Snook love structure. Bridges are a great place to | | | | until your plug remains buoyant when retrieving it. |
| fish for snook. Try to get down on the shore of | | | | Whether your preference is lures or bait, you |
| a bridge, so that you can cast underneath it. Don't | | | | have many options to choose from that work |
| just cast under it either. Often, snook will be | | | | well when fishing for snook. |
| moving along the shore there also. If you can get | | | | If you're going to fish with live bait, pinfish, |
| around docks, for instance in canals, you will | | | | greenbacks, finger mullet and large shrimp are |
| usually find snook. | | | | snook favorites. I have even had success on the |
| Another place that I often search for snook is | | | | beach using chunks of ladyfish. Keep in mind that |
| around causeways. There are mangroves along | | | | snook have great eyesight and the littlest thing will |
| many of Florida's causeways and in between | | | | spook them, so try not to use floats or weights. |
| them is access to the water. These are great | | | | Personally, I like to use lures, especially top water |
| places to fish. Often you will find shallow water | | | | plugs like Hedden Super Spooks. These lures |
| there, and guess what! Snook like shallow water. | | | | make a lot of noise, and seem to make the |
| If there is a channel there also, well that's a plus. | | | | snook want to destroy it. Another good choice is |
| If there are mangrove islands and/or oyster beds | | | | the DOA shrimp, but color will be a factor. The |
| there also, that's another plus - There is your | | | | current water temperature and types of bottom |
| structure. | | | | where you are fishing will determine the color that |
| In the wintertime move inland; again look for | | | | the shrimp should be. |
| parks on the water, like on main rivers that dump | | | | I recently started using a new lure from Strike |
| into the gulf or ocean. Snook cannot tolerate cold | | | | King called the 3X ZTOO. It is a soft bait that has |
| water. If the temperature drops down into the | | | | salt embedded into it. I tried this bait on a cold |
| low 60's they can die, so they tend to move | | | | morning when the snook were stacked up, but |
| where they know the warmer water will be. | | | | not touching anything that I threw at them. I |
| Power plants are a great place to fish; OK, since | | | | tossed one of these out, not expecting much, but |
| 9/11 we cannot even get close to power plants | | | | to my surprise I pulled 5 snook out of this one |
| anymore, but if you look around you can find | | | | hole in less than 30 minutes. Then the tide |
| places that are close to warm water runoffs. In | | | | stopped and the snook moved on, but it made a |
| the winter you will find both snook and tarpon in | | | | poor fishing day turn out to be good. |
| warm water runoffs. There is a place near me | | | | Always try to use a lip grip when you catch |
| called the manatee park. This is where many | | | | snook. The less you have to touch them (or any |
| manatees come for the winter and yes, it has a | | | | larger fish for that matter) the better their odds |
| warm water runoff. Now you cannot fish in the | | | | are for survival. When they are not in season, |
| manatee zone, but they do have a fishing pier | | | | pinch the barbs on your hooks. You may lose a |
| where you can fish and cast into the runoff just | | | | fish now and then, but the damage you cause |
| outside the park. This is also a great kayaking | | | | them will be greatly decreased by doing this. This |
| spot. | | | | will help ensure that the big ones are out there |
| There are also locks on many rivers; these are | | | | for years to come, healthy and hungry! |
| also great fishing spots in the winter. | | | | I hope that this article helps open your eyes to |
| Another good thing to look for is running water. | | | | new fishing opportunities. There are a lot of |
| Snook like to sit and wait in a good current and | | | | fantastic untouched fishing areas that are only |
| let the food come to them. I have noticed that | | | | accessible by land. So get out and go fishing, and |
| on small bridges, people just drive by thinking that | | | | don't forget to teach our next generation this |
| there is not much water there, so there must not | | | | great sport! |