Going Coastal

by KELLY GROCE :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Getting Snookered in Texas

WHEN IT COMES TO inshore sh, there’s no doubt that snook dominate their class. And yes, besides Florida, Texas is home to a shable and expanding population of snook. eir pronounced, black lateral line is something to marvel over as well as their gleaming yellow dorsal ns and narrow set of eyes. Aggressive in a itude, snook check all the boxes an angler could seek with their extraordinary ght. Hostile headshakes, freight train runs and full body aerials; these sh do it all.

Releasing a snook is just as fun as catching one. e mouth of a snook is similar to that of a largemouth bass. When releasing one, grasp its lower jaw with your thumb. e snook will close down on it until it’s ready to swim o . is is where they get the nickname “thumb-sucker.” e Lower Laguna Madre is the prime spot to target both species of snook, the common and the fat snook. South Texas has mild winters which are favorable for snook, who are sensitive to cold water temperatures. Both the deep waters of the Brownsville Ship Channel and the South Padre Island/Boca Chica Je ies are great, safe havens for these sh when the temperatures drop. During the freeze of 2021, snook sought refuge in these deep-water channels and didn’t take a massive hit. e slot for a snook in Texas is 24 to 28 inches. With their numbers on the rise, it is not uncommon to hook one or two sh of this size during a shing trip. ese sh are also growing in overall size. Capt. Brian Barrera is a local shing guide who specializes in tarpon and snook and has spent days on end studying and chasing a er these sh.

On a recent trip I had with Brian, he caught a massive snook coming in at 38 inches. We landed several sh in the 33- to 36-inch range on this same day, as well. If you’re like me and thought snook of this size only existed in Florida, think again.

Similar to bass, snook seem to eat everything, or nothing at all. When they aren’t being picky, there are several ways to catch a line-sider. Focus on areas with structure and preferably a strong current. Live baits such as a nger mullet under a cork, or a noisy topwater, even a so plastic on a heavy jighead will make an a ractive snook meal. e rarity of catching a snook in Texas makes the pursuit and chase of this rst-class sh that much more special. No ma er the size, landing a lone star line-sider is a prized moment for any angler.

Texas is home to a fi shable and expanding population of snook.

Email Kelly Groce at ContactUs@fi shgame.com