Fishing with Capt. George Tunison | Some interesting facts about snook
It’s warming up and so will the snook fishing as they shake off winter’s cold and slowly start moving to the coast for summer spawning duties. An often emailed question is, “Do snook migrate south for the winter like tarpon?” Yes, no and it depends, are all three legitimate answers.
According to the FWC, the snook in our region mostly stay local during winter seeking refuge in local canals, creeks, upriver or offshore on close-to-the-coast Gulf reefs. On the other hand, many Atlantic snook, like our Gulf Coast migrating minded tarpon, head south for thermal comfort with many snook wintering from Miami down through the Keys. East coast snook seem to be natural travelers with fish tagged and released at Jupiter and Stewart end up being recaptured in Charlotte Harbor. Some of these fish made this east-to-west journey with many taking up residence along the way in Lake Okeechobee where a resident breeding population was established long ago adapting to a freshwater environment and largemouth bass diet of shiners and other small fishes.
Although the IGFA lists 11 different species of snook eligible for recognition, Florida anglers tangle with five species with the “common snook” the typical catch. In fact, the Florida record for common snook was caught at Sebastian Inlet, a well-known trophy-size, east coast snook hotspot. This fish tipped the scales at 45.75 pounds. The world record common snook came from Costa Rica and weighed in at 53.10 pounds, caught in 1978. The FWC website reports a west coast snook caught in 2000 measuring 54 inches that was released without seeking record status. This fish was estimated to weigh in at close to 60 pounds. Does that mean a 75-pound or bigger fish is out there swimming? I hope I find out! In the meantime, a new world record for Pacific white snook was established in 2023 weighing in at 60 pounds, 13 ounces.
To catch a snook of a lifetime this year, fish big structure like our bridges with big lures or baits at night during outgoing tides. A 40-inch snook can swallow a live 15-inch ladyfish in one slurp so don’t be afraid to use big baits. Seventy-five percent of the snook I’ve caught over 40 inches in the last two decades have been by-catch caught while throwing large, soft plastic Hogy Eels, or fishing large live ladyfish or mullet at night under floats for tarpon around area bridges. My second choice would be to fish Captiva Pass, which can hold not only big numbers of snook but with some real whoppers mixed in. If all else fails, you’ll find me at the docks at Punta Rassa on an outgoing tide at night, of course.
Other time-proven methods include soaking large dead baits on bottom or for those that can’t sit still, trolling is a highly effective option considering the hundreds of miles of Cape canals that hold jumbo snook as well as tarpon.
Gear up when looking for that one memory fish. Most times I go by the 80-80 rule when combat fishing around gnarly structure and fast tides. That’s 80-pound braid tied to an 80-pound leader. Over-kill? On the flats for a 28-inch fish? Of course. But for a 30-pound rampaging snook in heavy current determined to break you off on his oyster crusted dock home base feeding station, you might think the 100-100 rule for your next encounter.
Do your part to preserve these incredible super star sport fish. Please release them carefully with minimal handling. Hanging a big snook vertically by a weighing device is bad news.
Warming waters mean fewer sheepshead so get them while you can. Sunny afternoons will draw active fish onto the flats so wind drift till you make contact with trout schools, reds, jacks and bonnet head sharks. If the water is under the bushes so will the redfish.
Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at (239) 579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.