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what do snook eat for bait

by Ralph Runte Sr. Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

  • Shrimp. If can catch or buy some live shrimp before fishing for snook, you’ll be presenting one of their most common meals. ...
  • Mullet. Mullet are another great option for live bait when going for snook. Mullet can often be bought from local fish shops, or you can catch your own. ...
  • Crabs. As we mentioned before, snook love eating large crustaceans and crabs are no exception. ...
  • Sardines. Sardines are a great option in the summer when t hey’re plentiful near shore. ...
  • Herring. Threadfin herring are a great option when going for larger snook. They often grow several inches larger than sardines and are also a natural baitfish for snook. ...

These ambush predators like to sit facing moving water because the current brings their prey to them. Snook devour baitfish such as pinfish, small mullet, greenbacks and sardines. They also eat crustaceans such as shrimp and small crabs.Aug 1, 2017

What are the best baits for snook fishing?

There are many types of baits for snook fishing, but the best one is shrimp. It will work in any water depth and can be fished with either a lure or bait, depending on what you’re looking to catch it with!

Are spoons good for snook fishing?

Spoons are good for catching more than just snook. they’re also great for catching other species like amberjack, speckled trout, and albacore tuna. Sometimes, anglers will use smaller spoons that are shaped like a spoon to imitate baitfish, and other times they’ll use lots of weight to help reach a greater depth.

How do you catch a snook?

A good way to find them is by locating schools of mullet, which they like to feed on. We also known snooks as “mullet busters” and they caught some trophy snooks this way. Sometimes, snook can be found in areas where there is tarpon because tarpon like to eat the same foods as the Snook.

What is the best time to fish for snook?

Snook are a fish that feed most during the early morning and late evening hours, so it’s best to head out then if you want some. Night-fishing for snooks has become really common as well; Capt. makes sure we all know about these times because they’re when he gets his catches. Where should you fish for snook?

What is the best bait for snook?

The best baits for snook fishing are shrimp, finger mullet and pin fish for any water depths. The best lures for snook are 3 inch and 5 inch white paddle tails with an 1/8 ounce jig head in shallow water and a 1 1/2 ounce flair hawk jig for deeper water fishing scenarios.

How do you attract snook?

For the highest chances of success, try fishing dock lights for Snook. Use lures, such as bottom jigs or swimmer bait, artificial crabs, and shrimp, or go with live bait, such as menhaden, mullet, or sardines. During the summer, when Snook are active, you can get lucky with casting topwater baits and plugs.

Will snook eat cut bait?

Cut baits can be very effective for snook. All of the baits that they eat alive they will also eat as cut baits. At times, the lively bait is going to work much better, however, don't rule out cut bait because some very big snook are caught every year on cut bait.

Are snook bottom feeders?

Snook are very efficient “up-feeders” but that underslung jaw is designed for pinning prey to the bottom, too. If you sight cast for snook on the flats or in the surf, how often do you see big specimens swimming right at the surface? Probably not often, unless there is a surface feeding frenzy.

What time of day is best to catch snook?

Snook, like most fish, feed mostly in the 2 hours surrounding dawn and dusk, so this is your best chance to catch them. Night fishing for snook is really popular, too, and Capt.

Do snook eat worms?

Snook tend to cruise the surf line looking for good things to eat. An angler armed with a rod holding 14- to 17-pound-test line can toss a feather/ worm combination and do quite well.

How do you hook ladyfish to snook?

6:2317:55Using Cut Ladyfish For Redfish, Snook, Trout, & Shark Bait - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd so what i like to do is hook it through the belly this is a five ought circle hook hook themMoreAnd so what i like to do is hook it through the belly this is a five ought circle hook hook them through the belly. That is really tough meat. It's aerodynamic it'll cast a mile.

How do you rig mullet for snook?

0:472:09RIGGING LIVE MULLET (For Large Redfish, Snook, & Trout In Thick ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what you want to do is you want to make your rig you want to put a weight about 18 inches or soMoreSo what you want to do is you want to make your rig you want to put a weight about 18 inches or so from your hook tail hook your mullet cast it up there and that way it's going to keep your mullet.

How do you cut a spot for bait?

2:597:41How to Cut Up Baitfish (For More Redfish, Snook, Black Drum ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipConsider it the head section. Then you have the midsection or the belly. And then you have the tailMoreConsider it the head section. Then you have the midsection or the belly. And then you have the tail section the tail section is typically going to be your most easiest.

Are snook hard to catch?

JUPITER — — After we'd gotten three snook bites and had all three fish get away by breaking our 80-pound monofilament leaders, Capt. Ray Peterson was determined to get a snook to his boat.

Are snook easy to catch?

Welcome to our “How to Catch Snook Fishing Guide” where we tell you every possible Tip for catching the amazing gamefish, Snook are one of the most highly targeted fish in Florida's waterways. They are excellent eating, sometimes difficult to catch, and they put up a good fight.

What hooks do you use for snook?

The best all around hook size for catching keeper size snook is a 4/0 circle or j hook. A 4/0 hook size is stout enough to bring in a slot sized snook without straightening out but is small enough to catch the smaller snook too.

What Is the Best Bait to Catch Snook?

Snook are ambush predators and they are not very picky when it comes to what they eat. They will feed on most small baitfish and crustaceans.

Can You Catch Snook with Dead Bait?

You can catch Snook with dead bait, however, it’s usually not as effective as live bait. That’s because dead bait is not attractive to most Snook as it doesn’t have the same wiggling action of live bait so it won’t really grab the Snook’s attention.

What Kind of Gear Do You Need to Catch Snook?

You need strong gear to catch Snook because they can put up a good fight.

Related Questions

The best time to fish for Snook is around 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunrise. Snook can still bite during the day, however, a lot of anglers prefer to target them at night because traffic would be minimal and Snook would be more active.

How to catch snook on a fly?

If you are on the hunt for snook to catch on the fly, then the first area you should look is the grass flats. The key to being successful is finding specific potholes on the flats that hold baitfish and pinfish. On most days you end up blind casting because the snook blends in so well. If you can spot the fish, then it makes it easy for sight fishing for snook. You should always cast around the edges of the potholes then work your way into the middle. If the pothole is in deeper water is could require a sinking fly to be used. The best patterns to use for snook flies are shrimp and baitfish patterns. The best rule to remember is to match the fly pattern to whatever the snook are hitting on. The t op flies for fishing the flats include but are not limited to the Seaducers, Muddlers, Clouser Minnows, Shrimp, and various other Baitfish patterns.

What do you need for a snook fishing trip?

This starts with the proper headwear and buff. This will protect your head, face, neck, and ears from the suns harmful UV rays. One thing that every snook fisherman needs is a performance shirt. These are important for protection while on the water. A snook performance shirt can be a good way for showing off your pride for snook fishing. The last essential apparel need is some good fishing shorts. Put all this together, and you are ready for a long day out on the water snook fishing.

Why do most anglers fail to catch snook?

A good rule that most anglers should remember is to follow the water currents since snook are ambush predators that prefer to remain motionless and then attack baitfish.

Do snook fish feed at night?

All snook tend to feed any time of the day. It could be during the day or at night whenever the bait fish are running. The lateral line along the snooks body can sense small movements and vibrations. Its large eyes are perfect for finding bait fish. It is these body features that make it a predator that excels at feed at night. Often the larger snook will be feeding at night. Finding where the mullet run can lead you to where the snook can be found. Fishing under bridges, piers, and docks at night with live bait or snook jigs often result is larger snook being caught.

What lures are good for snook?

Similar to the topwater lures, midlevel lures that are retrieved underwater but below the surface are also effective with snook. These can be large saltwater spinners, midlevel Rapala, or buzz baits. Retrieve slightly slower than the topwater lures to allow them to sink a few feet below the surface.

What lures do snook use?

This means they love biting a wounded fish (or artificial bait) that’s swimming above them. Topwater lures such as floating Rapala, propeller lures, and skippers. It’s important to note that when a snook hits your topwater lure, it will be difficult to not jerk your rod in reaction.

What is a snook?

Snook are one of the coveted saltwater gamefish in the southern United States. They go after many types of bait and put up a fight worthy of your most heavy equipment. If the other common species of gamefish aren’t biting, you should try your hand at the always-hungry snook.

What bait do you use for snook?

Mullet. Mullet are another great option for live bait when going for snook. Mullet can often be bought from local fish shops, or you can catch your own. During a mullet run, they become especially easy to catch and a go-to for snook fishing. Any extras you catch can also be used for snakehead!

How big do snooks get?

Their bodies are slightly yellow in color with a white belly. Snook grow up to 48 inches or 50 lbs and feed on baitfish and large crustaceans like crab and shrimp. They can live in both saltwater and freshwater, and enjoy living where the two meet.

What is a snook fish?

Snook are a common game fish in the southern United States that has a large mouth with a protruding lower jaw. They have a high dorsal fin that is divided, and black lateral lines that extend down their tail. Their bodies are slightly yellow in color with a white belly.

Where do snook live?

Snook inhabit the coastline of Florida down to Rio de Janeiro. They love nearshore locations, such as mangrove forests, beaches, estuaries, nearshore reefs, and salty marshes. If they’re near a river estuary, they often travel up the freshwater – especially when they are young.

What do snooks eat?

They are known to commonly eat smaller baitfish like pinfish, greenbacks, sardines, small mullet, greenbacks, anchovies, shrimp, and crab.

Why do snooks like to stay near structures?

They like structure because it offers them protection from larger predators, and a lot of baitfish tend to stay near structure as well, making it a great feeding opportunity.

How deep do snook fish live?

They also like to stay in shallower waters ranging from 10-15 feet in depth, though you can sometimes find them coming up to the surface to feed. Snook need water that is warmer than 60 degrees, so cold water areas are not great places to fish for them.

What kind of rod do you use for snook fishing?

Most anglers use spinning rods for snook fishing. Though you can definitely use a baitcasting rod and reel or fly rod depending on the situation. If you’re using a spinning rod, something right around 7 feet in length was fast to extra-fast action is a great all-around bet for most situations.

How many different kinds of snook are there?

The 12 different kinds are armed snook, swordspine snook, blackfin snook, guianan snook, black snook, fat snook, tarpon snook, mexican snook, yellowfin snook, union snook, and white snook. The most popular species of snook to fish is the common snook. This is the most likely kind that you will be targeting if you are fishing for the species.

What is a snook fish?

Snook are a popular fish to target for those that like surf fishing and inshore fishing. They are known as a powerful and aggressive species which makes them exciting to battle. If you’re fishing for snook, we created this guide for you. Here we will cover the different types of snook and how to identify them, their seasonal patterns, ...

What lure to use for snook?

The reliable bucktail jig is another tried and true snook killing lure that deserves a spot in every anglers tackle box. Try a 1.5 to 2 oz jig and fish the bottom to get your presentation in front of a giant snook.

What is the best bait for dead bait?

The best dead baits are again a mullet head, lady fish head and a pin fish. They key is to put this bait right at or under the mangrove branches. If the bait is 3 feet away from the mangroves you may not get any takers. Dead bait fishing mangroves requires precision bait placement.

What lures are good for dock fishing?

The best lures for dock fishing are any 3 inch soft plastic shad bait with a paddle tail on a red jig head if you are fishing the bottom and middle parts of the water column. This only applies to deep water docks. My favorite is the DOA CAL 3 inch shad with a paddle tail.

What is the best bait for snook?

What are the Best Baits and Lures for Snook Fishing? The best baits for snook fishing are shrimp, finger mullet and pin fish for any water depths. The best lures for snook are 3 inch and 5 inch white paddle tails with an 1/8 ounce jig head in shallow water and a 1 1/2 ounce flair hawk jig for deeper water fishing scenarios. ...

What bait to use for dead pin fish?

Best live baits around docks are pin fish, mullet and white baits (sardines, pilchards, greenies......). I like to use a popping cork to slow the bait and control it when I am using a pin fish or a mullet.

Where to catch snook in Florida?

Best baits and lures for snook fishing-- Spillways. One of the best places to catch snook is around spillways during the rainy months in Florida. During the rainy months the local authorities will open up the spillways so that the rivers and canals around Florida do not hit a flood stage.

What color lens is best for inshore fishing?

The best color lenses for inshore and dirtier water scenarios are amber, rose and copper. If you are fishing super clean and clear water or you are fishing offshore a blue or a gray lens is best. You will also want to stock up on UV performance fishing shirts to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

When is the best time to catch snook?

The first two hours after sunrise and the last two hours before sunset are the best fishing times for snook. (Unless you like to fish at night.) Night time snook fishing is awesome. Bring two types of lures with you. Bring a walk-the-dog style of topwater for first and last light.

How To Catch Snook

Snook are caught by casting live bait or artificial lures into shallow water structures, including docks, mangroves, and oyster bars. Once hooked, Snook dart into surrounding structures, so keep your drag tight and attempt to guide the fish away from the structure as best as possible.

Pro Fishing Tips for Catching Snook

Find the deep pockets: If you are fishing for Snook during winter months, especially during cold snaps, find deep pockets with moving water. Snook will congregate in these deep pockets in an attempt to stay warm.

What Are Snook?

The Common Snook, often shortened to Snook, is a prized fish amongst anglers around the world. The Snook is known by many names, including sergeant fish, robalo & linesider. Anglers target five species of Snook; common Snook, small scale fat snook, large scale fat snook, tarpon snook, and sword spine snook.

Where Can You Catch Snook?

Snook are hyper-local fish known for only minor migration during seasonal changes. Snook tend to head deep into the back bay/estuaries during winter months. Snook are hypersensitive to changes in temperature and often congregate in large schools in deep estuary pockets during cold snaps.

Best Time Of Day To Catch Snook

Snook are opportunistic feeders always looking for their next meal and chasing different biomasses, including greenbacks, google eyes, shrimp, mullet, and other baitfish. Though Snook will feed all day, the best time to target them is first thing in the morning, sunset, and at night.

Best Time Of Year To Catch Snook

Though Snook can be caught year-round, the summer bite from April to October is typically the hottest time to target them due to the rising water temperatures and the onset of the spawning season. As the waters heat up, Snook becomes increasingly active, increasing their overall feeding regime.

Here Are The Top 3 Lures For Catching Snook

The Spooltek Fatty 4″ is the Rolls Royce of the artificial lure world. The Spooltek brand has a large assortment of baits with a reusable body and a replaceable tail. The large paddle tail on the Fatty 4″ makes for a dramatic bait retrieval even when reeled in smoothly.

Is snook hard to catch?

Yes, but not always. If you are fishing during the months of April through October, then snook are near impossible to catch because they are spawning.

When is snook fishing season?

The snook is a fish that can be found in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico and adjacent federal waters. It has two recreational seasons: March through April, when they’re at their peak; September thru November for another chance to catch these delicious felines.

What is the best time to catch snook?

Snook are a fish that feed most during the early morning and late evening hours, so it’s best to head out then if you want some. Night-fishing for snooks has become really common as well; Capt. makes sure we all know about these times because they’re when he gets his catches.

Where should you fish for snook?

Sometimes they can be found in small estuaries. A good way to find them is by locating schools of mullet, which they like to feed on. We also known snooks as “mullet busters” and they caught some trophy snooks this way.

Does rain affect snook fishing?

Rainy days can be an excellent time to target snook and other species of fish. This isn’t the best idea if you plan on going out fishing in a hurricane or thunderstorm, but light (or not so heavy) rain doesn’t mean that they won’t come around either.

What is the best bait for snook?

Live bait fishing is a great way to catch snook, especially when they’re near docks and mangroves. Try using live shrimp, pilchards (live fish), mullet, or sardines depending on where you will be fishing in order for your line of hooks with baits attached, not just jump out at them as soon as possible.

Does snook eat cut bait?

Cut baits are an excellent choice for snook. All the bait they eat alive will be eaten as well if it’s cut properly and at just the right time!

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Natural Baits

  • Natural baits are the most common type of bait that anglers use for snook. Snook seems to be attracted to these types of baits, for some reason. They are typically live or very lively bait that the snook just loves. The most common types of natural baits used for snook include shrimp, crabs, mullet, and squid; however, there are many more types of ...
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Artificials Baits

  • Artificial baits are also known as lures or artificial flies. These types of baits are used to attract fish in the same way that natural bait is. However, they do not provide any type of sustenance for the fish. For this reason, artificial baits are used primarily on species of fish that are not able to get their food from bait in the water. One example of a species of fish that uses artificial bait is b…
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What Size Lures Do Snook like?

  • Snook like much other game fish, will feed in the open water or near structures when there is no mangrove cover available. They can grow to just under 6 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds, so it’s important not to go too big when fishing for snook. The size of lures that are most successful can generally range from 6 inches to 6 inches long depending on the conditions and time of year…
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What Color Lures Do Snook like?

  • Though some claim that snook does not have a preferred color preference during any given season, many anglers believe that red/pink and white lures such as DOA CAL jerk baits or DOA shrimp are the best snook lures. I have been fishing from South Beach to Key West for years, and have yet to find a time that these colors don’t work well. In the early months of springtime, I typic…
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