![[ The Hunger Site Donate Free Food ]](../images/hungerbanner.gif)
If you are reading this page, then you've already caught a snook. I remember my uncle asking me, 'You still haven't caught a snook?' I had started fishing again after a ten year break, and it had been a few months already for me saltwater fishing. This game fish is quite abundant in Florida, and on the Treasure Coast. And once you've caught one, it's difficult not to fish for them exclusively.
One night a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I decided to tie on a jig to my 10 lbs. six foot fiberglass spinning outfit. I've caught ladyfish and bluefish before on lures, but usually I bottom fished shrimp. But that night I hooked into plenty of fish, and landed one ladyfish. I moved up and down the pier that night, and I enjoyed my mobility (the lack of tackle I had to carry). For a couple of weeks, I fished lures almost exclusively, and I realized something: I usually catch one good fish per trip, the same as when bottom fishing. That was the first step. The second step was fighting and landing my first snook, a two footer on ten pound test and a jig. Wow. It wasn't even a keeper, but it was hell of a fight. And then I found my current favorite fishing spot, and I found that snook as well as other game fish frequent it after dark. Note that while it is located around the area of a bridge, it is also relatively shallow water compared to the water most boatless fishermen fish (I catch most fish in under four or five feet.)
What is the best lure? The jig. It's basically some lead, a hook, and a body of some material (in recent history, soft plastic). But the jig requires some skill to use effectively. And you must choose the proper weight. I like ¼ ounce jigs, so this recommendation is based on that. If you're wondering about color, I prefer chartreuse, yellow, and white or pearl.
The rod should be made of graphite, rated medium light (6-12 lbs., one handed) or medium (8-15 lbs., one or two handed) power, even medium heavy, as long as it is rated for eight pound test line and ¼ ounce lures. It should have fast action. New Concept-type [single foot, underwrapped] guides are highly recommended, which means eight guides on a six foot six inch rod, and nine guides on a seven foot or seven foot six inch rod. A conventional graphite reel seat is also highly recommended. Cork handles are usually found on rods that have these components, but I've found that a good reel seat (e.g. Fuji) is more important than grip material.
One must match the line and the reel to the rod as well. Do not use a zero stretch line with any graphite rod. I suggest premium nylon monofilament in eight lbs. test. The stretch will help you keep constant tension on the fish, which is necessary with a stiff rod. A [no stretch] fluorocarbon leader can also be safely used with mono (I suggest a 2-3 foot leader of 20 lbs. PVDF). As for the reel, you want one with a long cast aluminum spool and an infinite or continuous anti-reverse. You want the lightest reel that can hold about 200 yds. of eight pound test, both to balance with the rod and because of the numerous casts necessary.
Note: If you prefer to use one of the no stretch superlines, a graphite composite rod is a good choice. I suggest a twenty-five or thirty lbs. diameter nylon mono leader in this case.
Note 2: This rod may also be used as a popping rod.
Every keeper I've caught was caught with a jig. But I've caught more snook with a ½ ounce plug. As a matter of fact, I usually fish with a plug, and later switch to a jig. And if I was to hand a friend who's never fished before a rod, it would be a plug rod.
The rod should be made of fiberglass, the lighter s-glass preferred, rated medium power (6-15 lbs.), one or two handed, to five eighth ounce lures, and medium action. It should be six to seven feet long, and have six underwrapped guides. The gathering guide should be double foot. A conventional graphite reel seat is again recommended. Grip material is much less important, because sensitivity is not as much of an issue.
The line of choice is ten or twelve lbs. test premium nylon mono. A ten to twelve ounce reel with a 'quick cast' trigger, a long cast spool, and holding 200 yds. of 10 lbs. test will balance the above rod. I prefer 20 lbs. nylon mono for leader, as abrasion resistance is less important with plugging for snook.
Note: This rod may also be used as a live bait rod.
I've read that using twelve (or fourteen) lbs. test main line and thirty lbs. (to eighty lbs.) leader is fairly common for snook. But I fish rather shallow water, and my earliest experiences with saltwater fishing involved what would be considered ultralight tackle. I understood very early in my fishing career that using lighter tackle gets more bites. So eight pound test main line with a twenty pound diameter leader is my most common configuration. However, more conservation-minded anglers will probably opt for heavier gear, as my setup tends to kill undersized snook.
![[ Best Viewed With Any Browser ]](../images/anybro.gif)