snook fishing

The first of the month marked the opening of snook season and the bite has been pretty much wide open. With little to no cool down, the snook are thriving with warmer water temps. From residential canals and thick mangrove shorelines inshore to fishing the beaches and inlets the bite couldn’t be much better.

With the mullet run also moving in full swing you can find the snook close by, anglers can find a pretty solid bite anywhere you find pods of 4-6 inch silver mullet. Especially those looking for a bite around the surf and you can expect the bite to be best early morning and late evening or around tidal changes.

My favorite way to catch snook with these conditions is throwing larger lipped plugs such as the bomber windcheater, yo zuri crystal minnow, or any dark lipped plug in the 4-6 inch range. Live baits work too, but you’ll definitely find more down time with the amount of bait in the surf and typically the artificial bite will spark more of a reaction strike which will produce larger numbers.

This is also a great time to fish the lagoon systems around heavy mangrove structures, docks, and residential canals. If you find these type structures with 4-6 inch finger mullet stacked along the edges you’re sure to find the snook. Low light periods at dawn and dusk is a time to take advantage of the topwater bite. The rapala skitterwalk in chrome or white is a great mullet imitation and is my top choice. As the sun rises a no live bait needed paddle tail and little mullet have both been getting some plenty of action as well. Or, for the live bait enthusiast, a 4-6 inch mullet to match the hatch is definitely best.

The next few weeks are an exciting time to be a fisherman on the space-coast and I highly encourage everyone to get out and enjoy some amazing fall fishing!