Snook

General Info: Snook are one of the four species of tropical fish in a grand slam. The others being Permit, Bonefish and Tarpon. Catching a nice snook might be the hardest of the four. They can be hard to find, hard to cast to, picky and tend to immediately run into a big ball of mangrove roots when hooked. These incredibly hard-fighting predators eat mostly baitfish, and are more likely to be found in the mangroves than out on the flats, however smaller fish are known to cruise the flats in some areas. They can be very picky on patterns and are known for long follows and last-second refusals. They are found in Florida on both sides, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, ranging as far south as Brazil. Most lodges from Florida to Belize that offer permit and tarpon fishing will have snook in the area, especially if there are extensive mangroves. Snook are not often the target species on a guided trip, but they are worth the effort.

Preferred Gear

Rods: 9-10wt fly rods. Most anglers will use what they have brought for permit, tarpon or bonefish, but a 9' 9wt or 10wt is the preferred snook rod if you were to get a dedicated setup. A rod with a softer tip is preferred to deliver flies more accurately at shorter distances.

Favorites: TFO Mangrove Coast, Echo Prime, Orvis Recon

Reels: Large arbor, saltwater worthy sealed drag,

Favorites: Big Y General, Orvis Mirage, Redington Grande

Lines: Weight forward, tropical. Shorter heads with longer front tapers for short, accurate casts are preferred for Snook fishing.

Favorites: RIO Tarpon Quickshooter, Airflo Flats Power Taper, SciAnglers Grand Slam