Fish-eye footage by Cameron Kirkonnell

With only a few weeks until August 31st opening of Snook Season on the East Coast, anglers are already honing their skills on one of the most sought after inshore species in Florida. Video provided by Cameron Kirkconnell.

Winter in 2010 damaged the stocks on both coasts of Florida and the Keys. Goes to show that Mother Nature can do as much damage as any gillnet. Thankfully, the FWC has kept strict limits on size and seasons to manage these fish and it is reflected in the numbers we are seeing today. Video provided by Cameron Kirkconnell.

On the Treasure Coast of Florida, the average size of linesiders is much larger than on the left coast with the 20+lb'ers in every school. The secret to these heavy fish is the prolific bait that keeps this coast the home of the biggest Snook in the USA.

In summer, bait is packed on every structure from the mangroves to big shipwrecks out as deep as 120'. Spanish Sardines, Cigar Minnows, Threadfins, Greenies, Glass Minnows and mullet provide an unlimited supply of high calories for these voracious feeders allowing them to reach more than 50" and 40+lbs.

If there is bait, there are Snook and while the inlets and jetties take the brunt of the fishing pressure, don't be afraid to look just outside of the pack and find your own little niche full of fish all to yourself.

When fishing the Jetty, focus your attention on the upcurrent edge. Snook and other predatory fish will be waiting using the front edge of the rocks the same way Porpoise do on the bow of a ship to save energy as they are ride the current pushing against the rocks setting themselves up to be in the right place when bait flows to them in the current.

That single big rock that sticks out from the main structure, or even a dark spot on the bottom could prove to be your new honey hole. There is only so much space for fish to be on the upcurrent edge and this time of year there are so many Snook around that a live bait on fluorocarbon leader cast nearly anywhere with some structure and tidal flow is going produce a strike.

Changing the type of bait may not be enough and positioning of your hook may make the difference in a strike. This school size Snook fell to a large Threadfin hooked just above the anal fin which works well with big frisky baits that will be swallowed head first allowing the circle hook to do its job when you come tight on them.

With the change of the tide, the way your boat and your bait tail is going to change and so will the position of the fish on the structure. A bait hooked in the top of the back fished directly behind the boat in current will pull backwards and unnaturally so hooking them in the nose letting them swim into the current will produce fish like these no matter what the tide if you adapt to the present conditions.

Nearshore Snook Tactics