subject: Learn How to Catch the Elusive Snook Fish From a Dock [print this page] Learn How to Catch the Elusive Snook Fish From a Dock
I live in Florida on an island with a wonderful bay in my back yard. The channel runs directly in front of my dock guaranteeing a constant change of scenery. Well, I found out in no time I had a Snook-Hole in my back yard! Fishing for Snook off my dock is like fishing in a barrel, it is just amazing. I spend hours and hours out on my dock either fishing or just watching the amazing sunsets, stars, and the creatures trucking-by my dock.
In these parts it is not easy to catch the Elusive Snook fish. Locals have been known to fish for Snook most of their life and maybe catch one or two. I earned the nickname The Snook-Slayer because I have caught more Snook than I can count off my dock. My dock has lots of rubble and rip rap under it and is equipped with a Snook light which has been instrumental in creating a Snook-hole under my dock with an ever present community of Snook. I have the Snook light hooked up to a timer which brings the most amazing fish, bait, and sea creatures right to my dock as they travel the tides in and out.
I catch my own bait off my dock for the Snook by catching shrimp running with the tide with a cheap butterfly net rigged on a long bamboo pole or you could use a shrimp net. Shrimp are drawn to the Snook Light and land on my pilings. I scoop shrimp with the butterfly net as they swim by or scoop them off the pilings. I put the shrimp in a cheap lift-lid bait bucket until I am ready to store. I store the shrimp in a weighted bait bucket that I drilled with holes (so it sinks) and attach it to my dock. The shrimp stay alive indefinitely because the moving tides provide them with food and their water is constantly refreshed. Anytime I want bait, I pull up the bait bucket full of shrimp, put one on my hook and cast.
My success with Snook is due to the shrimp I catch off my dock which are the same shrimp they eat. Snook turn their noses up to store bought live shrimp, believe me I have seen them do it. To rig the shrimp, I free line small bait hooks on loops and hook the shrimp behind their brains to keep them alive and swimming. I only let out 5 feet of 20 lb. line with 30 lb. leader line. My fishing rod for dock fishing is a heavy stiff 6.5 foot Ugly Stick, this type of rod allows you to flip fish easily out of the water (but it is not good for casting).
My secret (well not anymore) is to patiently flip the shrimp back and forth on the surface, duplicating the way shrimp jump thru the water. Most of the time I am doing this right in front of the finicky Snook as they hover under my dock waiting to ambush their meal. Snook will even look you in the eye as they decide whether to take your presentation. The Snook attack these local shrimp with such force, every cast you make you need to hold on tight, they grab the shrimp and bolt for a piling. Snook are famous for diving under and around piling and if you don't get your line away from the piling quick, the barnacles will slice your line, so a fast flip is necessary to keep your catch. The locals here call it hook and flip, the second the Snook grabs the shrimp you flip your pole towards land to literally flip the Snook out of the water.
Once I've flipped a Snook to the dock I bring it up into my yard and unhook them, then my dog Rocky will keep them corralled until I am ready to fillet. Rocky has learned Snook have razors near their gills, he just pushes them around quickly with his snout to keep them from heading back to the water.
Snook fishing off my dock is fast furious action when the Snook are feeding. Snook just love to feed at night, under the lights, during and outgoing tide. During this time you can watch the Snook hover under the dock waiting to attack their dinner going by in the current-you literally sit there looking the Snook in the eye as you flip your bait at them.
Now you wonder, why use fish chum or burley when I get so much action under my dock. Well, there are nights when the tide is not moving. On these night when you are ready to fish, nobody's come to the party!. I use chum on these nights to get the fish closer to my dock and entice them to feed. If the tide isn't moving the Snook aren't feeding. Chumming works like a charm. Usually I chum with a squid and shrimp mix, or homemade chum from bait fish. My favorite chum is one I make with large Amberjack or Cobia bodies donated by some local charter captains. I don't need to chum much, there are a lot of fish near my dock including Snapper, Grouper, Sheepshead, Amberjacks, Shark, and Ladyfish lurking just outside the snook light.
Oh, did I mention Snook are the most excellent table fare. Snook are best eaten fresh, so only catch what you will eat. Around here we call it fillet-and-release for your dinner, that is if you have figured out how to catch Snook. Although I do not "fillet and release", I use my carcases for chum, go figure.
Note: Snook are a highly regulated species, always check your local regulations when fishing for Snook.
