Choose Right Fishing Bait For Snook
Snook are often found at the mouth of rivers and creeks, as well as along docks and jetties. Snook like structures such as mangroves and sea walls because rubble collects on the structures, creating a good habitat for bait fish. Snook can be caught with live or cut baits. Baits common to Florida snook fishing include grunts, croakers, mullet and pogies. Snook are voracious eaters and will readily bite on many different types of bait, but they have a preference for some baits over others.
There is no wrong choice when it comes to choosing a bait fish for snook fishing because any type of bait will work. Ideally, a snook fisherman should have a variety of common baits on hand for all conditions and locations. Snook are typically not selective, but if one type of bait isn't working it is good to have another option available. The following table lists preferred baits by location:
Location Snook Bait
Pinellas County Mullet, Pogy & Shrimp
Hillsborough County Mullet, Pogy & Shrimp
Lee County Pogies, Lined Mullet, Herring & Silver Spoons
Charlotte Harbor Pogies, Menhaden and Cut Bait
Intracoastal Waterway Menhaden, Pogy & Cut Bait
Pompano Beach Menhaden, Alica, and Redfish
Hobe Sound Grunts and Mullet
Scatter Point (Gulf Coast) Bull Minnows and Curl Tails. The most successful of these baits when scattered is the blueback herring which is caught in the fall and winter months.
Snook fishing season extends from November through March, but peak snook action occurs during January to February. During this period many anglers target snook with live or cut baits; smaller fish are hooked on artificials, while larger specimens are caught on large baits like mullet. Live baits include pinfish, grunts, and mullet while cut baits include ballyhoo, pilchards, sardines and other small bait fish. Snook will also hit lures like jigs, metal spoons and minnows; they are particularly fond of soft-plastic jerk baits which imitate the action of injured baitfish.
Snook are an aggressive species and will attack a bait, lure or fly with great ferocity. Snook anglers can occasionally hook more than one fish on the same cast if they are working several snook at once. Snook fishing is typically fast-paced action but there are some locations where it is better to work baits slowly. See more: https://fishinghacking.com/the-best-bait-for-snook-things-you-need-to-succeed/