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| A sizable school of snook swims in the surf along Casey Key south of Sarasota. |
I have conducted seminars on fly fishing for snook for the
past 30 years.
In almost every session, a majority of folks that I talk to
have yet to catch their first snook on fly.
I live in Sarasota, Fla., on the Gulf Coast. The area offers
some great sight-fishing for snook from May through August. We walk the local
beaches and fly fish snook in the calm, clear surf.
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| The author shows off a fine beach snook. |
Sight-fishing, for those who aren't familiar with the
activity, is spotting the fish before making a cast. It's considered the ultimate activity for
many fly anglers.
We slowly walk along local beaches and look into the surf.
When we spot a snook, we'll present it a fly. There are times when we'll see
300-400 snook in a morning.
This activity isn't beyond the skill level of most anglers.
If you have the desire to sight-fish a snook, you can do it. All you need is a
quality pair of polarized sunglasses, hat or cap and the ability to cast a fly.
It's that simple.
And if you can follow a few simple directions, you're on
your way.
Prime months are June, July and August. If I had to pick my
peak times, it would be mid-July to mid-August. That seems to be the time when
the most snook are in the surf.
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| Scott Dempsey of Savannah, Ga., succeeded. |
Snook take to the surf as early as March. It all depends on
the water temperature. When it hits 75 degrees, snook will move from the bays through
the passes and spread out along the beaches. You can find them along Florida's
west coast from Anna Maria Island to Marco Island.
While you might find them at any beach, realize there are
some better than others. That's where I come it. I have spent a lot of time
walking the beaches, so I know which are holding fish and which aren't.
I don't like to waste my time.
What I look for is good weather conditions. I like a bright,
sunshiny day with a gently easterly breeze.
This usually results in a fairly
calm surf with clear water. And that's what you need when you're trying to
sight-fish.
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| A "healthy" snook forages in the feeding zone. |
When you're looking for snook, don't make the mistake of
trying to look for a whole fish with eyes, mouth, fins and tail. If you do, you
probably won't see very much. What you're looking for is movement, a shape, a
shadow or even just a fin.
It's much like sitting in a tree stand, looking for deer. If
you look for a whole deer complete with antlers, head, nose, mouth, body, four
legs and a tail, you'll likely fail. When you're deer hunting, you might see
just an ear twitch. Or the subtle movement of a tail.
Once you spot your first snook, it becomes pretty easy.
Where do you look? Well, the surf is an arbitrary thing that
can be pretty large. I divide it into two pieces: the feeding zone and the
trough.
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| Gibby's DT Variation is the fly of choice. |
The feeding zone is that area from the dry sand out to four
feet. Snook will cruise parallel to the beach in this zone looking for food.
You'll often find them in the trough (that deep area just
off the beach) lying on the bottom and facing west. These fish usually aren't
hungry and tough to fool.
I usually arrive at the beach about 8 a.m. Doesn't do much
good to get there any earlier because the sun won't be high enough in the sky
to light up the water. Your "window of visibility" will be very small
early and it will open wider as the sun rises. By 10 a.m., you'll be able to
spot a snook 150 feet away.
When you spot a snook, first determine in which direction
the fish is swimming. If it's coming toward you, all you have to do is stand
still and wait for it to come into range. If it's swimming away from you,
you'll have to get in front of the fish in order to make a cast.
What's the proper cast? For me, it's a perpendicular cast
(straight out from the beach). I like to time my retrieve so that the fly and
fish meet at the same spot at the same time. When this happens, two things can
happen. The fish will begin to track your fly or it will ignore it.
If the fish begins to follow, it's up to you to trigger a
strike. This can be tricky because you only have a few feet of water to work
with. I'll usually speed the fly up just a little. If the snook wants your
offering, you can't retrieve it too fast.
Diagonal or parallel casts work at times, but there's a good
chance you'll spook the fish if you're off-target or cast too far.
First thing I do when I get to the beach is to pull about 20
feet of fly line off the reel. I will then
hold the fly and rod in my right
hand, with the fly between my thumb and index finger. I allow about 10 feet of
line out the rod tip, with the rest trailing behind me as I walk. Remember,
short casts are the rule.
Some opt for a stripping basket, but I've found they only
get in the way. The sand will not hurt your fly line. Just wash it off in warm
soapy water when you get home.
Snook are structure-oriented, so don't overlook fallen
trees, grass or rocks. Those are likely snook hangouts. Shadows can be, too!
Shadows often are created by houses and trees along the beach.
If you spot baitfish in the surf, there likely will be snook
around. I've often seen snook crashing the bait. A quick cast to the feeding fish
often will result in a hookup.
Most of the snook are small males. The average snook is
20-22 inches. However, I've seen them up to 30 pounds or more. My largest snook
on fly is a 20-pounder that measured 40 inches.
I've had clients catch a number of slot (28 to 32 inches)
snook. I've also had them hook some monster. Just last summer, I guided outdoor
writer Mike Hodge. He caught and release five average snook, but lost a monster
that I don't think he really believed would hit. In fact, he didn't think that
dark spot on the bottom was even a snook!
After I convinced him it was not only a snook, but a big
one, I advised him to cast a couple of feet in front of the fish. As the fly
was sinking, the big snook seemingly levitated off the bottom, eyed the fly and
inhaled it.
Hodge did a good job of strip-striking, but forgot to let go
of the fly line as the fish surge off.
Pop! The leader broke.
"I'm not sure what I did that," the bewildered
Hodge said.
I took Jack Littleton on his first beach-snook outing and he
hooked a monster early on. The big snook (I estimated her at 25 pounds) was
tight to the beach. Littleton made a perfect cast and the fish hit almost immediately.
He did a good job of strip-striking and clearing the line. He was "on the
reel" is just a second or two. The fish made a lengthy run, then changed
direction. The line went slack.
The hook simply pulled.
"I couldn't believe the speed and strength of that
snook," Littleton said.
He did nothing wrong. He made a good cast, set the hook
correctly, cleared the line and kept pressure on the fish.
Snook generally aren't easy. I've been skunked, but not
often. My best day took place in 2009 when I caught and released 41 snook in a
morning. I'd say an average day is five snook.
Snook aren't the only species you'll find in the surf. I've
hooked or landed tarpon, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, mangrove snapper,
ladyfish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, pompano and cobia.
You never know
just what you'll encounter.
When I fish, I carry one fly rod (usually a 7- or 8-weight),
with a sinktip line and 6-foot , 20-pound fluorocarbon lure.
My fly of choice is my Gibby's DT Variation. I've caught
more than 1,000 snook on this fly over the years.
I also wear a fanny pack tackle bag in which I carry extra
flies, leader material, pliers, nippers and a bottle of water.
Don't forget your sunscreen!
You can go barefooted, but I opt for neoprene boots that I
purchased at a dive shop. They protect your feet and also are great when the sand
is hot. Sandals are abysmal. They are great for collecting sand and shell.
Ditto for tennis shoes.
A camera is also essential. You'll want it when you land
that snook of a lifetime.
A few years ago, I guided a couple of fellows on a
beach-snook trip. When we arrived, there were already 14 members of a local
fly-fishing club spread out along the beach, beating the water. About half were
wading -- which you don't do. If you're wading, a majority of fish will be
behind you!
I ran into one of the guys from the fly club a few months
later. He said the 14 of them didn't hook or land a fish. My two clients didn't
set the world on fire, but they did combine for seven snook and three Spanish
mackerel!
I also asked why they were wading?
He said, "That's what they told me to do."
I've given beach snook presentations to that club on at
least three occasions. I've stressed not to wade!
If you want to sight-fish a snook in the surf, give me a
call (941-284-3406) or email me (steve@kayakfishingsarsasota.com).
I think you'll like it!
