The sight of a 20 plus pound snook destroying a topwater bait at high noon is something that will be burnt into your brain for as long as you live. The downfall to this approach is that heavier than normal tackle needs to be used, since the strike is so violent. Medium heavy action rods like the Tsunami Airwave 8-17lb class or even the 10-20 lb class rods will surely increase the chances at landing one of these monsters. Using a minimum of 50lb Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon or monofilament leader is necessary to minimize cutoffs.
Another good way to target these fish is with a jig and small soft plastic combination. This technique is more user friendly to the tackle. This may be the best way for light tackle anglers that want to land that trophy. The DOA 3” Cal Shad Tail and the Wedge Tail Mullet Egret Baits are both great baits to use because of their versatility. You can make them mimic a baitfish or a shrimp just by changing the speed of your retrieve. Another great plastic bait to use is the Vudu Shrimp by Egret Baits. This bait seems to trigger a feeding reaction in snook. Using a 30 pound leader is sufficient for jigging because most fish get hooked close to the edge of the mouth where the leader does not come in contact with their rough sandpaper like teeth. It’s just up to the angler to keep the line out of their gill plate, if the fish goes airborne.
Live bait fishing is the most effective way to catch extremely large fish, especially when fishing an area that is near deeper water. The best choice for bait would have to be a 12” mullet on an 8/0 Mustad Demon Perfect circle hook on a minimum 60 pound fluorocarbon leader and 50 pound braided line. Combine that rig with a heavy action Tsunami Air Wave Elite 20-40lb class rod and a Canyon 5000 spinning reel. This sounds similar to what most people would be fishing for tarpon with, because that is exactly what it is. Big fish need big tackle when using live bait.
Whatever method you choose to target snook in the Big Bend Region, please remember to practice catch and release whenever possible. This will insure that they will be here for years to come for all of us to enjoy. If you find yourself up this way and you see me on the water there is a very good possibility that you are in the right area for earning your stripes.
Contact Captain Marrio Castello ofTall Tales Charters at 352-454-7719 or by visiting www.TallTalesChartersFL.com.
