Snook Fishing Off of the Beach in Florida (The Complete Guide)
The best way to catch snook off of the beach is with a 3 or 5 inch white paddle tail shad lure with a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce red jig head. The higher parts of the tide are best because you want to fish the trough right next to the beach. Just bounce your jig in the trough as you walk the beach.
Snook are one of the most sought after species in Florida waters for various reasons. They are excellent fighters and have destroyed many an anglers drag and reel gears. It is especially fun to target them off of the beach when they cruise the trough right next to the shore.
My favorite lure is a 3 inch white or root beer paddle tail with a red 1/8 ounce jig head. I like to bounce the jig right in the depression made by the waves a few feet from dry sand.
The are very abundant so you can target them anywhere adjacent to saltwater or in saltwater. They can live in fresh water and are in the canals and rivers that empty into saltwater.
You can find them in the inlets, in the intracoastal water way, around bridges, on the beach or anywhere else where there is saltwater.
Oh and they are delicious. The common snook makes for excellent table fare but make sure they are in season or you can lose your boat, tackle and anything else if you get caught with one out of season. They are tasty but not worth poaching.
I am an INSHORE FISHING GUIDE on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the flats, beaches and mangroves around Florida for over 40 years. I will tell you all of my tips and techniques that I know to catch snook off of the beach in Florida waters.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below and catch more snook off of the beach.
The best way to catch snook off of the beach is with a 3 or 5 inch white paddle tail shad lure with a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce red jig head. The higher parts of the tide are best because you want to fish the trough right next to the beach. Just bounce your jig in the trough as you walk the beach.
Snook are one of the most sought after species in Florida waters for various reasons. They are excellent fighters and have destroyed many an anglers drag and reel gears. It is especially fun to target them off of the beach when they cruise the trough right next to the shore.
My favorite lure is a 3 inch white or root beer paddle tail with a red 1/8 ounce jig head. I like to bounce the jig right in the depression made by the waves a few feet from dry sand.
The are very abundant so you can target them anywhere adjacent to saltwater or in saltwater. They can live in fresh water and are in the canals and rivers that empty into saltwater.
You can find them in the inlets, in the intracoastal water way, around bridges, on the beach or anywhere else where there is saltwater.
Oh and they are delicious. The common snook makes for excellent table fare but make sure they are in season or you can lose your boat, tackle and anything else if you get caught with one out of season. They are tasty but not worth poaching.
I am an INSHORE FISHING GUIDE on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the flats, beaches and mangroves around Florida for over 40 years. I will tell you all of my tips and techniques that I know to catch snook off of the beach in Florida waters.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below and catch more snook off of the beach.
Snook fishing off of the beach--Tackle
Catching snook off of the beach is a blast but you have to have the right tackle or you won't bring too many of the big ones in. You should probably have a 3500 series reel and a 7 foot medium heavy rod loaded with 15 pound braided line if you are tossing lures.
This is the set up that I use when I walk the beaches in the mornings to catch snook that are in the trough along the shoreline. I used to use a 2500 series reel with 8 pound braid but the bigger snook take too long to get in and are half dead when you finally do get them in.
If you are live baiting the BIG snook with croakers or finger mullet you will probably want to use a 4500 up to a 5500 series reel with 20 to 30 pound braided line for the bigger over slot snook that you will probably catch. The rod will still be a medium heavy but you might want to go to an 8 feet long or longer length to cast the bait further if the snook are not in the trough.
I wrote an article all about the best lures for snook fishing. You can read that article by clicking right here.
They usually are right next to the shore but sometimes they are just on the inside of the sandbar. It can be hard to cast a live bait out that far without the bait flying off when you cast so hard. When they are further out I will use my 10 feet long medium heavy action surf rod.
BEST ALL AROUND ROD AND REEL COMBO FOR SNOOK
I have used many different rods and reels over the last 40 years of fishing like Diawa, Shimano and Penn.
My favorite line of reels that are out now is the Penn Spinfisher series reels. They are smooth, tough; have great drag systems; and best of all a sealed body so sand and water don't get inside the reels.
They are perfect for surf fishing, wade fishing and kayak fishing. (Any fishing technique that makes it likely for water or sand to get in them)
You can expect to pay $150 plus for these reels. BUT they are worth it.
My second favorite non-sealed reels are the Diawa BG reels.
They are the reels that I use on my flats boat because I know that they are unlikely to get dunked in the water or to get beach sand in them.
You can expect to pay $100 plus for these reels. They are a great bargain in my opinion.
Watch the video below to learn more about catching snook off of the beach.
Snook fishing off of the beach--Bait
The best live bait for snook is croakers. If you can cast net a dozen croakers when the snook are all over the beaches you will have an epic fishing day. The croakers will stay on the bottom right in the strike zone of the snook. Their maximium strike zone is probably about 4 feet from the bottom so the croakers will stay in the perfect place the whole time.
A mullet is usually the exact opposite. They will stay at the surface of the water usually. So you have to consider the habits of the bait to present them well to the snook. Free lined mullets are great baits for snook as long as the water is no deeper than chest high.
If you fish any deeper you will need to add a sinker to the line to keep the bait near the bottom. Sometimes the snook are spooky and don't like the sinker presentation. Free lining the bait is your best bet if possible. The good news is that if you fish the mullet too deep for a snook maybe a black tipped shark or a tarpon will hit it. Now those is some serious fighting fish.
I wrote another article on this website that covers in great detail surf fishing for beginners. You can read that article by clicking right here.
A pin fish is another great live bait for snook off of the beach. You will have to get them off of the grass flats and bring them to the beach side but they work great. The free lined pin fish is another fish that will stay on the bottom right in the snook's strike zone.
When the pilchards and scaled sardines are running the beaches they work exceptionally well. Just net a few dozen for your aerated bait bucket and toss yours with a 2/0 hook through the nose into the passing schools. The snook will be watching the schools for weak and injured fish to eat.
Your fish has a hook through its face so it will be the injured fish of the group. Make sure to cast your bait to the outside of the school if possible to make it easier for the snook to find. Some of these schools will have thousands of fish in them so give the snook a little help to find your bait.
Watch the video below and learn more about the best lures for snook fishing.
WANT TO CATCH SNOOK? BOOK YOUR FISHING CHARTER TODAY!
Snook fishing off of the beach--Lures
My favorite lures for snook fishing off of the beaches depends upon the water conditions. When the water is calm in the mornings I like to fish a walk-the-dog type of top water lure that is a mullet imitation. The Zara Super Spook and the Top Dog MirroLure are usually the ones that I go with.
I like the natural color combinations with a light belly and a dark back. I like an all white version of these two lures too.
Just cast the lure as parallel to the beach as possible about 4 or 5 feet off of the beach. Work it back to you and cast again. I will usually make 3 or 4 casts before walking down the beach and repeating the process.
Another great lure for snook is a DOA CAL white shad soft plastic with a paddle tail and a red jig head. I like to use a 1/8 or a 1/4 ounce jig head if I need a longer cast when the fish are further out. This bait works best bounced off of the sandy bottom as you reel it back in. I like to start with a slower retrieve and speed it up gradually if I am not getting any hits.
When the snook are out around the sand bar a silver spoon is a great lure. You can get a lot of distance with a spoon if you need it. This is another lure that I will fish slowly near the bottom and gradually increase the retrieve if I am not getting any hits.
When there is a 2 or 3 feet swell coming in and the water turns milky the snook will hit just about anything that you throw at them. On clear water days they are much more finicky and a perfect presentation is a must.
The quintessential snook lure is the flair hawk snook jig. This is a great lure for snook fishing when there are no rocks to snag on. If you are fishing a beach with a nice sandy bottom, then you can throw a flair hawk jig to catch tons of snook.
You will just want to bounce it on the bottom as you retrieve it with a twitch or two every few feet. The best colors and pink and chartreuse when the water is murky and white when the water is clear.
Watch the video below and see the paddle tail lure catch a monster snook.
I created the complete video fishing course to help you catch more snook. You can get it for FREE by getting on our email list. You will not be spammed.
Best gear for snook fishing off of the beach:
If you are going to be fishing for snook all day you will definitely need to protect your eyes and skin from the sun's harmful rays. Polarized sunglasses are a must for snook beach fishing. A high end pair of sunglasses will run about $250 and a lower end pair will run you about $25 with glass lenses. You can find them with plastic lenses for about $5 at Walmart.
I got a pair of the $250 polarized sunglasses for my birthday. I can tell you this. They definitely perform better than the cheaper sunglasses. The polarization is more intense so you can see the fish better. They are also more sturdy.
My problem is that I am worried about breaking them so I still use the cheap ones most of the time. I tend to break nice things. My expensive ones are definitely better than the cheap ones that I use though. I need to reiterate that.
Whatever price range you decide to go with you must wear polarized sunglasses or you can not sight fish for snook in the trough along the beach. The polarized lenses eliminate the glare on the surface of the water so that you can see under the surface.
The best color lenses for inshore and dirtier water scenarios are amber, rose and copper. If you are fishing super clean and clear water or you are fishing offshore a blue or a gray lens is best.
You will also want to stock up on UV performance fishing shirts to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays. These shirts have built in sunscreen and are moisture wicking which means they evaporate your perspiration more efficiently keeping you cool on those hot days on the water.
I own an apparel company that has a great selection of sun protection performance fishing apparel. You can look through our selection by clicking the visit our store link below.
Want the perfect fishing gear? VISIT OUR STORE
Is surf fishing for snook better on an incoming or outgoing tide?
The incoming high tide is the best tide for catching snook. The increased water volume allows predators like snook, tarpon, sharks and large jacks to move from the outside trough of the sand bars or reefs right up against the shoreline.
You can catch snook during any part of the tide but they are the closest to the shore during the high tide.
The outgoing high tide is also great for catching snook. They like to sit right by the rips that pull water between the reefs or sandbars to let the bait fish be pushed by the tide right into their waiting mouths.
The advantage of surf fishing during the higher parts of the tide is your casting distance from the beach is minimal. You can literally use an underhanded cast to get to the fish during high tide. They might only be 20 feet away from where you are standing.
Conversely, you will need a 10 to 15 foot rod and reel outfit to get at those same fish during the lower parts of the tide because they might be 50 or 100 yards from shore. You will also need larger and heavier lures or sinkers to get your offering out to the fish during low tide.
This can be a big problem when you are targeting snook, tarpon, sharks and jacks that are feeding upon glass minnows or anchovies that are only 2 inches long.
The saying, "Match the hatch" is relevant because those predators will be keyed in on small baits. If you throw a huge lure at them they will often ignore it because they will want a small profile lure. During the high tide you can get a very small lure out to where the fish are feeding on smaller prey items.
Another problem with casting out very far to get at the fish during low tide is the line angle. The more line that you have out, the less of an angle it is from the tip of your rod into the water column.
This means that your line has a better chance of getting wrapped around a rock or a reef when you have a lot of line out. You can lose a lot of fishing gear that way.
Your angle will be many degrees higher when the fish are right at your feet so you will have less of a chance to get your line stuck on some underwater structures.
Watch the video below to learn how to catch snook in the surf with paddle tails.
The incoming high tide is the best tide for catching snook. The increased water volume allows predators like snook, tarpon, sharks and large jacks to move from the outside trough of the sand bars or reefs right up against the shoreline.
You can catch snook during any part of the tide but they are the closest to the shore during the high tide.
The outgoing high tide is also great for catching snook. They like to sit right by the rips that pull water between the reefs or sandbars to let the bait fish be pushed by the tide right into their waiting mouths.
The advantage of surf fishing during the higher parts of the tide is your casting distance from the beach is minimal. You can literally use an underhanded cast to get to the fish during high tide. They might only be 20 feet away from where you are standing.
Conversely, you will need a 10 to 15 foot rod and reel outfit to get at those same fish during the lower parts of the tide because they might be 50 or 100 yards from shore. You will also need larger and heavier lures or sinkers to get your offering out to the fish during low tide.
This can be a big problem when you are targeting snook, tarpon, sharks and jacks that are feeding upon glass minnows or anchovies that are only 2 inches long.
The saying, "Match the hatch" is relevant because those predators will be keyed in on small baits. If you throw a huge lure at them they will often ignore it because they will want a small profile lure. During the high tide you can get a very small lure out to where the fish are feeding on smaller prey items.
Another problem with casting out very far to get at the fish during low tide is the line angle. The more line that you have out, the less of an angle it is from the tip of your rod into the water column.
This means that your line has a better chance of getting wrapped around a rock or a reef when you have a lot of line out. You can lose a lot of fishing gear that way.
Your angle will be many degrees higher when the fish are right at your feet so you will have less of a chance to get your line stuck on some underwater structures.
Watch the video below to learn how to catch snook in the surf with paddle tails.
Can you surf fish for snook when it's rough?
Yes, you can surf fish for snook when it's rough because choppy surf conditions provide snook and other fish species cover to approach the beach more safely. Rough seas will stir up the water making it better for fish to hide from predators and find food to eat.
Rough seas tend to stir up the bottom exposing small shrimp, crabs and clams for predators to feed upon.
Of course, the downside to surf fishing when it is rough is you can't control your line, baits or lures as well as you can during calm conditions.
You also lose the touch that you have when you are fishing when it is calm. In other words, it is harder to feel the bite when the seas are rough.
This is a big problem when the snook are being finicky because you need to get a good hook set or you will lose the fish. Using braided line can help with this a little bit because you can feel the bite better with braid than with mono filament lines but it is still difficult when the waves are big.
In my opinion, the perfect surf fishing scenario for snook is when the waves are 2 to 3 foot swells that stir up the water to a milky blue color.
Snook will hit just about anything that you throw at them when the water conditions are like that. I believe that they base their attacks on your baits and lures by smell and feel versus sight.
So if you can pitch a smelly bait that sends out a lot of vibrations, then you have a great chance to catch a snook off of the beach when the water is milky and stirred up by wave action.
Best water temperatures for snook fishing off of the beach:
Water temperature is a big deal if you are trying to catch snook off of the beach or anywhere else for that matter. Snook are a very tropical species and can only go up to North Florida waters in the hottest months of the year.
The friction of the wave action on the beach will often keep the beach snook a few degrees warmer than the inshore snook. So when you get those colder days in Florida you can often find snook in the surf because it will be just a little bit warmer there.
Snook are cold blooded just like an alligator or a python. So they have to regulate their body temperatures by using the waters that surround them. If they get too hot or cold they will die very quickly.
A few years ago Florida had a major fish kill because of freakishly cold weather front that came in quickly and stayed extremely cold for 5 or 6 days.
This trapped a lot of fish where they were so there was a major fish kill. Normally when the low pressure cold fronts approach the fish will move out to sea or deeper water to survive.
This front came in very quickly and then stalled right over the state wiping out the snook population. AND the tarpon, and the redfish and even the manatees. Snook were off limits for a couple of years after that so that their populations could rebound.
The video below will teach you the optimal snook fishing water temperatures.
Conclusion:
Snook fishing off of the beach is a blast. I love the fact that they are usually right at your feet during the higher parts of the tide. A high tide during sunrise is my favorite with sunset being a close second. I'm getting excited just thinking about it.
Snook are one of the most sought after fish in Florida and they are highly regulated. DO NOT POACH A SNOOK. You will get in tons of trouble. You can go to jail and lose thousands of dollars by having an illegal snook. It's not worth it.
During the summer months, the snook will be running down the beaches on their way to spawn in the inlets. They will come from the rivers, bays, channels and just about everywhere else they like to live just to get a shot at reproducing.
They will congregate in the inlets by the thousands some years to spawn. They are off limits during the summer months for that reason. They need a chance to reproduce so that there will be plenty of snook to catch the next year.
If you are ever in the Treasure Coast of Florida book a snook fishing charter with me. Snook are one of our main target species along with redfish, spotted sea trout and tarpon. Catching a snook from a kayak or off of the beach is a really good time.
I hope that this article helps you catch more snook. Good luck and tight lines.
I also created a Free Online Snook Fishing Course. You can get it below.