Snook Fishing in Vero Beach, Sebastian Inlet Snook Fishing

There are five species of snook throughout the tropical waters in the world including the Vero Beach and Sebastian Inlet snook fishing regions. Here in Florida the species that mostly lives in our waterways is the Common species type. These fish are of tropical nature and are found on the East Coast of Florida from as far north as Daytona Beach and the Cocoa Beach fishing region south to the most southern area as Flamingo in the Everglades back up the Gulf side to the Sarasota fishing area. Fishing in Vero Beach and Sebastian Inlet which is one of the regions we fish also offer a nice concentration of common snook.

As said before they are of tropical nature and don't take well to cold temperatures. 60 degrees or lower is the low tolerance range for these fish. They become lethargic to almost comatose when the water temperature dips into the low 50 mark and can sometimes die when the water hits in the 40-degree range. The more ideal range for the linesiders is from 70-85 degrees for water temperatures, with 90 degrees being in the upper tolerance range for their liking. Fortunately snook fishing in Vero Beach is considered tropical and there is a considerable fishing season for snook save the very short winter month or months and the closed season during the spawn.

If you are wandering what a Snook looks like or have never had the opportunity to hook into one of the strongest and hardest fighting fish the flats have to offer you will find that they have a distinct black lateral line, a sloping forehead, a large mouth and a protruding lower jaw. Their pelvic fins are a yellow color that stands out when sighted in very shallow waters.

Spawning primarily in the summer months they migrate into the backwater tributaries from ocean inlets where they can be found along the many bridges, docks and mangrove shorelines that are plentiful in are waters. Closed seasons for the East Central part of Florida are in the summer months from June 1st to September 1st. This is for their protection while in the spawning times. Also the winter months from December 15th to January 31st where they will succumb to low water temps and can be easily be found floating in the water unable to move from the cold readings.

There is a wide variety of tackle and equipment that can be used to fight these game fish. Medium to a medium heavy rod in the size of 6'6 to 7' will do just fine. Spinning or plug casting reels that hold at least 160 to 210 yards of line will be good. For line this is where you should leave the sporting 10 LB or less at home when you are searching for these hard fighters. It's not to their amazing long runs that they can deliver nor do to the very razor sharp gill plates they have but for the cover you have to fish around when targeting these fish.

Snook are a cover-oriented species and they will be close to some type of cover such as the many mangrove shorelined flats and canal systems. They also like to hold tight to bridge pilings and love to hang out at a few local docks that are always present in our waterways. This is where the heavy tackle comes into play. Premium braid low stretch lines work great to turn their heads. Mono lines from 12 LB test to 20 will work just fine as well. Always using a shock leader of no less than 30 LB test will keep from getting cut by those gill plates.

Lure selection is to ones liking. Topwater baits from walk the dog styles, prop type baits and soft plastic sluggo styles will work great. These fish explode on a topwater like no other. They have been compared as "Largemouth Bass on steroids". Sub surface lures work just as well to get a bite. Gold spoons, plastic tail grub and floating/diver style baits will also get the job done.

The pictures below are of common snook taken while fishing in Vero Beach and fishing in Sebastian Inlet.