Each month Snookangler.com will feature a helpful article aimed at improving your odds on the water. A quick preview of upcoming articles can be found at the bottom of this page.

September 2001

If you fish some of Florida's most renowned snook fishing hotspots – especially on weekends – you know that the sheer number of people on the water can be overwhelming. To avoid the crowds (and the associated fishing pressure they create), many snook anglers have taken to fishing in the "off hours" – that is, in the afternoons following work or on weekdays. However, many of us work-a-day folks are on the clock during the week, which leaves one option: night fishing. Note, however, that I'm not implying that fishing after dark is the last and worst choice. In fact, for reasons that are detailed below, it's actually the first choice among many of the world's most accomplished snook anglers. Let's take a look at some of the most productive snook 'nightspots."

Dock Lights

When targeting snook at night, the most popular destination are residential dock lights. These "snook lights" are simple devices featuring a light bulb covered by a metal cover that directs the light down onto the water surface. The light attracts baitfish, which – in turn – attracts snook. As long as the water stays relatively warm, snook can be found hovering under these lights, looking for a meal. Many waterfront homeowners are also snook anglers, so these lights are relatively common in most Florida residential canals. Of course, some dock owners are proprietary about their lights, and they will ask you to leave – or even shut off their lights – to keep you away. But most of them realize that the public waterways are, well, public, and that the snook are going to gather despite occasional fishing pressure. Be courteous and quiet, and you'll find plenty of lights to fish. So, what's the best way to fish a dock light? Well, a boat is almost required. Sure, you can fish lights from land and do quite well, but a boat allows you to hit multiple lights, approach a dock with more stealth and provides you with better leverage when leading wily snook away from dock pilings. Besides, most good docks are on private property, so a boat is a necessity for accessing them legally. Stealth is very important – excess noise will cause snook to sink into the depths, and will make them wary and spooky. As for the best methods, many anglers prefer live bait, including baitfish such as greenbacks and whitebait as well as the old time favorite: live shrimp. However, I prefer to use artificial lures, and swimming plugs are the best bet under lights. I use smaller plugs such as the Maverick Goldeneye or YoZuri Crystal Flash, although larger plugs such as the Bomber Long-A series will do the trick. Sinking plugs such as the MirrOlure 52M can also work well. Cast them just outside the edge of the light and retrieve them with a smooth, steady retrieve. If that fails to produce results, try a stop-and-go retrieve. Jigs will also catch snook under lights. I prefer to use a smaller 1/4 ounce to 3/8 ounce size, and I adjust the color and size I use based on the intensity of the light. The brighter the light, the lighter and smaller the jig I use. In low light or darkness, I prefer a larger black or brown jig, as it creates greater contrast and is more likely to be seen. Regardless of the lure you use, be sure to use at least 30" of 20-30 lb. shock leader, and use a loop knot to attach the lure. A final option – and my personal favorite – is to use small flies on an 8 to 9-weight rod. Snook under lights are often feeding on smaller bait fish such as glass minnows, and while they'll ignore larger lures in this situation, they just can't seem to resist a fly. As I do with the jigs, I select color and size based on the brightness of the light. Small streamers or shrimp patterns seem to work best.

Bridges and Piers

Some of the biggest snook on record were caught under or around bridges at night, and the reasons are obvious. Bridges near open water normally traverse an intense tidal flow. That flow sweeps a variety of "groceries" through a typically narrow section, allowing big snook to line up with their noses in the current waiting for an easy meal. Bridges also provide protection from the sun on hot days, and the nearby pilings offer the ambush cover that snook favor. Finally, most bridges feature deep, moving water – a favorite haunt of larger snook. Piers feature this same protection and deep water, and can be as productive as bridges. Many bridge and pier snook are caught on bait, usually large whole baits such as greenbacks or whitebait, or cut bait such as mullet or ladyfish. Live shrimp on an unweighted line, allowed to drift, can also be very effective. As for lures, swimming plugs seem to be the most popular. They can be cast a long ways and they have a built-in action that snook find enticing. When used from piers, they are most effective when retrieved through lights or when retrieved parallel to the pilings. When fishing from a bridge that features a strong current, cast the plug upcurrent and retrieve it as it drifts down. Retrieving a plug against the current looks unnatural, screws up the action of the plug and seldom produces a strike. Jigs are a bridge standby, as they allow anglers to plumb the depths for larger snook that seldom rise high in the water column. Any of the larger, plastic tail varieties, such as the Riptide series, will do, although a plain old white bucktail jig has probably accounted for more big snook than any other jig. Flies can catch pier and bridge snook, but the deep and/or moving water often requires sinking lines and bigger flies which can be hard to use around structure. Regardless of the lure you choose, be sure to use a stout rod capable of turning big fish away from nearby structure.

Flats

Flats fishing at night? Yes, thatÕs right. Although most folks connect flats fishing with daylight hours and sight fishing, it can also be productive after dark. Snook actually feed more after dark than they do in the daylight hours, and on nights when the moon is full or near full, visibility can often be surprisingly good, and snook can really go on a tear. Of course, a good knowledge of the flat you'll be fishing is essential, unless the prospect of spending all night on a mud bar or oyster bed appeals to you. Silence is the rule, and alert eyes and ears can be the difference between catching fish and never getting a strike. The method is a simple one: go to a flat that you know to be productive in daylight hours – preferably on an incoming tide, in case you do get stuck – and either use a trolling motor or pole to move across it very slowly. Listen for sounds of feeding snook, including hits, boils, showering bait, etc. Move toward each commotion slowly, and toss a plug as close to the action as possible. In very shallow water, a small jig is a good choice, although the best bet for shallow water night fishing is, in my opinion, a topwater plug. A surface plug will help you avoid snaring the turtle and spartina grass that are present on most flats that hold snook, and will create enough of a commotion to bring fish in from a considerable distance to investigate. Remember to work your lure slower than you would in the daylight hours.

Passes

In the hotter months of the year, snook are in breeding mode, and can be found in great numbers in most of south Florida's passes. They feed actively at night, and they'll take a variety of lures and baits. Again, cut bait such as ladyfish and mullet are effective when targeting larger snook, and live shrimp will get a snook's attention, as well. Of course, the moving water in most passes will require a weight, preferably on a sliding sinker rig. Many lures will catch fish in this situation. Swimming and sinking plugs will definitely take their share of fish, as will topwater plugs worked tight on shoreline structure – especially on moonlit nights. Fly fishermen can score with a variety of flies, with larger streamers probably the best bet. But the single best lure for fishing passes at night – especially in the summer months – is the jig. They are easy to cast, can be used to explore water of varying depths, and can be used to imitate everything from baitfish to crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. I love my topwater plugs and flies in the daylight hours, but given the choice of one lure for a nighttime trip, itÕd be a 3/8 ounce bucktail or plastic jig. Remember to cast jigs upcurrent and retrieve them naturally with the flow, bouncing them off the bottom every 2-3 seconds as you bring them in. When a snook hits, you'll know it. One word of caution: if you're fishing a pass from a boat, be ever mindful of the current. A wake or a slippery deck can put you overboard in a hurry, and the currents in many of Florida's passes aren't to be taken lightly. Have a plan in place in the event someone falls overboard, and be sure that you're familiar with the path to and from the pass before venturing out on a night trip. If you're fishing a pass where you can park your boat and walk the shoreline, do so. Most snook will be found closer to shore, so you won't lose any advantage by walking and casting. In fact, you'll gain the advantage of better control, as it's easier to cast lures and fight fish from solid ground – especially at night.

Nighttime fishing offers the snook angler a chance to experience mild weather, beautiful scenery, great fishing, more than a little adventure and unrivaled solitude – even in residential areas normally crawling with other boaters and anglers. For whatever reason, late night fishing is still mostly practiced by a few bleary-eyed diehards who catch lots of big fish without a lot of fanfare. And though it's not practical for most of us as a matter of course... it's practically impossible to forget once you've given it a try.

upcoming articles...

The Hard facts on Softbaits - How to get the most out of these weedless wonders. (October, 2001)

Dance a Little Jig - Don't overlook the most underrated lure in the business. (November 2001)

Baitfishing Basics - Live bait by the numbers. (December, 2001)

Fly By Night - Feathers, fur and full moon fun. (January 2002)

Out in the Cold - How to find and catch snook when the barometer drops. (February 2002)

Backwater Bombing - A time-honored tactic that separates the men from the boys. (March 2002)

Skip Your Way to Snook - Learn a technique that will help you reach fish on higher stages of the tide. (April 2002)

Shoreline Flyrodding - Nothing beats stalking and catching snook on a flyrod. (May 2002)

The Right Skiff - How to choose a flats' boat that's right for you. (June 2002)

Shallow Water Sermon - How to effectively stalk snook in skinny water. (July 2002)

archived articles...

Terrific Topwater Tactics - Ten proven ways to get more out of your topwater plugs. (July, 2001)

Sweet Summertime - The hottest months make for the hottest fishing. (August, 2001)

Heed the following advice, and your after-dark trips will be much more productive:

1. Stay out – or go out – as late as you can. The later at night you fish, the better your odds get. Snook, especially larger ones, do most of their feeding in the wee hours of the morning. Manipulating your schedule – and suffering at work the following day – are the price you pay for better action. Fact is, late snook fishing is as close as you'll get "the good old days" when snook were in larger numbers and much more aggressive.

2. Time your tides. Though tidal flow may not be readily apparent in inland canals, snook – and the critters they feed on – are directly influenced by it. Choose a strong tide, when possible.

3. When fishing dock lights, don't blow past docks that feature indirect lighting. While it's true that you'll usually find more snook under the brighter lights, rest assured that they are also present under dimly lit structures, and they'll often be more aggressive and less spooky than snook under the "bright lights." It's always worth a cast or two to find out.

4. Try the shallows. Big snook will move up into shallow water at night after it cools from the daytime heat, herding baitfish into corners and blasting them with abandon. While it's true that larger snook generally prefer deeper water, they will creep into skinny water to feed at night. A stealthy approach and a surface presentation could land you the biggest linesider of your life.

5. Watch the moon. Snook feed regardless of the moon phase, but there's little doubt that they feed best on either a new or full moon. A new moon makes for strong tides, but offers little in the way of ambient light. A full moon, especially on a clear night, can light up your favorite fishing hole and make it easier for Mr. Snook to track down your offering.

6. Try moving water in summer. That is, in the hot months snook are in their largest concentrated numbers of the year, and most can be found in a select number of spots. If it's hot, get to a pass/inlet on a good tide and your odds of getting into fish go up exponentially. So, now youÕre prepared to go catch snook at night, right? Well, almost.

7. Before you go, don't forget to invest in a long sleeve shirt and pants – preferably of a lighter materials – to guard against the ever-present mosquitoes and no-see-ums.

8. Be sure to take along a little bugspray, and don't be afraid to use it. Dedicated snookers will spray their hair, ears, face, etc. to keep the annoying critters way – and to be able to keep on fishing a good spot. Fact is, most great spots, especially in the productive summer months, are going to be lousy with bugs.

9. If you're going by boat, review your charts and take it easy on your way out and in. Throw a flashlight in your tackle box, both as a help when rigging in the dark and as a navigational aid.

10. Take the time to rig your tackle carefully beforehand, as rigging on the water – at night – can be a trying experience, especially when snook are popping all around you.