A Word From the Captain Taken from Lagooner Blog
Snook are an advanced species of fish for most anglers, usually requiring expert timing and fish fighting tactics. Your presentation can mean the difference between getting a bite and not and then once hooked snook turn into one of the smartest and hardest fighting inshore fish in the world, weaving their way into rocks, docks while jumping, leaping, twisting simultaneously shaking their heads, flaring their gills and throwing the hooks. If there was a fish that I consider my favorite, snook has to be very close to the top of the list if not the first one.
Be aware that snook are not for everyone... A beginning anger can quickly become discouraged to find that fishing is more work, technique and requires more skill than they have presently. In the fall and winter we often pursue snook at night and into the early mornings. Low light conditions make casting challenging even for advanced anglers. Some snook fishing requires and expert cast to get the bait or lure presented to the snook and then make a natural presentation that will convince these intelligent fish to bite.
Indian River Snook are no different than any other snook in the world and they're fun to catch for many anglers looking to put another species notch on their belts or just looking for a great time of fishing for a prestigious and tasty fish on the Indian River.
Where are Snook in April?
Snook can often be found between their winter hideaways and summer spawning grounds on the beach. Making their way up the intracoastal or Indian River Lagoon near islands, sandbars, canals and grassflats. Spring is the time for shallow water anglers to get excited about catching breeder sized snook in shallow water as they make their way toward the inlets and out to the beach.
Snook are one of my all time favorite fish to pursue as they have everything it takes to make them a great gamefish. Snook not only fight hard, but have tricks and pranks to play on the angler from the time their hooked up till after you land them. A typical snook tactic is to find the nearest structure thus breaking you off. If your quick and lucky enough to survive the first run to cover, the snook will proceed to show you the power his broad strong tail provides him, then comes the aerobatics...
Of course the snook is difficult to fight on the line but an angler must first find these smart game fish that are often lurking after dark or around structure (see above). Structure provides ambush opportunities and safe haven for the snook and is often the best place to hunt for and locate them. Once found it's often difficult to entice a snook to eat and can as frustrating as arguing with a woman (you'll more than likely loose). Landing a snook can be as dangerous as handling a bunch of double edge razors as the snooks gills are sharp and flailing for the opportunity to defend against the unsuspecting angler.
The rewards of landing a snook are not only in the satisfaction of victory, but in the fine white fillets that this gamefish offers. Snook are known as one of the best eating inshore species in Florida and there's not much better than snook on the plate.
