Fly Fish Everglades Snook

Frightened baitfish break the surface out of a muddy plume in the water, followed by a dark shape slowly sliding. Giving herself away just briefly she then comes to a complete stop. She lays perfectly still like the mangrove logs around her, in wait for the next meal.

Snook can be targeted year round in Southwest Florida in varying areas from the backcountry to clear beaches of Gulf of Mexico. Snook are my favorite species to target because of their difficulty to chase but often honest response to a well-placed fly. In the fall and winter months (November – February) snook make their way into the back bays and lakes of the Everglades backcountry. Looking for warmth and a change of scenery, snook will navigate the mangrove tunnels deep into the backcountry of the Everglades. When fishing the backcountry snook will often make violent explosions in the tanic water while feeding on mayan cichlids and mosquito fish. A well placed gurgler or baitfish pattern in the splash zone often is smashed of the surface upon impact.

In the warming temperatures of the Spring (March – May) some snook make their way to the coastal bays of the 10 Thousand Islands while others still linger in the backcountry. In between tarpon opportunities some of the best snook fishing happens in the warming waters of the Everglades. Snook are mainly ambush predators, stealthily waiting for a finger mullet to swim across its face before a violent eat. During the big spring tides snook will lay up on and cruise the edges of a protected bays in Naples waiting for their next meal.

During the hot summer months snook school up on the beaches of Southwest Florida to spawn. They can be targeted on the crystal clear edges of the outside islands and beaches. Large schools of snook can be seen cruising the beaches of Naples. A small baitfish pattern can create competition between a school of fish causing multiple fish to chase the fly.

During the late summer some of the backcountry rivers of the Everglades can hold great numbers of snook. The heavy rain flows draw in cooler water and plenty of food for snook to devour.