Many anglers consider the snook to be the top inshore gamefish. They are voracious predators and love to ambush prey along mangrove shorelines and dock pilings. Snook range from South Carolina to Southern Brazil, but in the United States can be found mostly along the coasts of Florida and Texas. This species is very sensitive to cold temperatures and may become stunned or die during severe cold fronts. A snook can grow to 4 feet and 50 pounds, which makes it a real challenge to an angler using light tackle.
Most fishermen use spinning or bait-casting tackle with topwater and diving plugs or jigs.
Anglers targeting snook should fish around the changing tide. Snook fishing seems to improve during bad weather. Most fishermen work the passes and beaches in the summer. Bridge fishing also is productive in the warmer months. But cold weather sends snook looking for warm water in the canals and creeks, making winter snook fishing difficult.