When I was growing up, I made weekly trips with my dad and brother to Florida’s Loxahatchee River in search of giant snook. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, snook didn’t have an upper slot limit, so my father spent most of his time targeting the biggest fish. Today, large snook are protected from harvest, but I still make an annual trip to the Loxahatchee in search of giants.
Sleep All Day and Fish All Night with Snooktopia Anglers
Eight years ago, I decided to invite a few friends to my annual snookcation. Last year, the Snooktopia Facebook group attracted more than 30 anglers for five days of hard-core snook fishing. The yearly snook fishing festival is growing as more people want to get in on the best snook fishing with some of the most passionate snook anglers.
Timing Is Everything
Scheduling a snook fishing festival depends on a lot of elements coming together. The key is predicting the arrival of the mullet run.
Early in the season, catching bait can be the biggest challenge. In the fall, each passing cold front brings waves of mullet down the beach. Early in the mullet run, snook are on a feeding frenzy. However, with the season wearing on, and millions of mullet migrating through the area, the snook seem to gorge on the baitfish and become more difficult to catch.
The best time to target snook is sunset to dark as low-pressure systems roll over the area triggering a feverish bite. I’ve seen snook feeding on every moon phase and tide cycle, but it seems an outgoing tide away from the full moon is the best on the Loxahatchee River.
Florida snook grow up to 50 inches long with the state record at 45.75 pounds. Current fishing regulations only allow anglers to keep a 28- to 32-inch snook and the season is closed from June to August.
Go Big
Big snook require a big bait. While small soft plastics will entice a smaller snook, to interest a trophy fish use a trophy bait.
I prefer a six- to 12-inch mullet. The easiest way to catch mullet is with a cast net. When the mullet are difficult to net, I use a light bottom rig baited with shrimp to catch mojarra and croakers.
Beating a 40-pound snook out of heavy structure requires a sturdy rod and reel. I use a medium-heavy rod and 6000 spinning reel spooled with 30-pound-test braided line.
I rely on two rigs to target large snook. The first is a Carolina rig with a two-ounce eggsinker to a 24-inch leader of 60-pound fluorocarbon and a 7/0 to 10/0 circle hook. The Carolina rig works best for anchoring along deep drop-offs and near seawalls.
The second rig is 10 feet of 80-pound fluorocarbon and a 7/0 to 10/0 circle hook. The live-line bait allows me to slowly troll in and out of the mangroves, seawalls and boat docks. This method produces large tarpon, too.
Targeting large snook takes a lot of patience. Last year, Snooktopia anglers only scored one snook over 40 inches. When the trophy bite is slow, I turn my attention to smaller snook hiding in dock and bridge lights.
Lighten Up
For light tackle, I use a medium-action rod and 3000 reel spooled with 20-pound braid and a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader. My go-to for casting to the dock lights is a quarter-ounce jighead with a white paddletail.
Approach the lights quietly and cast the lure so it skips under the dock or into the bridge shadow. Then retrieve quickly to rip the lure through the lights.
While most of the light-tackle fish measure between 15 and 30 inches, I’m always ready for the possibility of a monster snook charging out and grabbing the small soft plastic.
Smaller fish are fun, but most anglers fish all night for a shot at a true trophy. Snook fight like bass, jumping and darting, but snook have a broomtail to produce incredible torque and speed. The shot at a big snook brings most anglers to Snooktopia, but meeting like-minded souls, who sleep during the day and fish all night, is what gets participants to return year after year.
Snooktopia 2024 is scheduled for September 4 through 8. Find out more information in the Snooktopia Facebook group.
Lisa Ousley and a 41-inch snook. | Feature photo: Bart Swab
