7 Tips To Catch Snook In Mangroves (With Artificial Lures)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
It’s snook time!
Do you want to catch more snook on artificial lures?
One of the best ways to do that is to skip lures under the mangroves where the snook are waiting in ambush for an easy meal.
I’ve caught hundreds of snook this way and in this video, I’m going to show you some of my best tips so that you can do it, too.
You’ll learn:
- How to choose the best spots to cast to (which really helps when you’re fishing hundreds of yards of mangrove shoreline)
- The best lures to skip under the mangroves for big snook
- How to get broken off less
- And much more
Check out the video below.
How To Catch Snook In The Mangroves [VIDEO]
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Here are 7 tips to catch more snook along mangrove shorelines:
Tip #1: Look for shorelines where the water doesn’t go too far back under the mangroves
In places where the water goes back several feet, it can be hard to get your lure back to the fish, and if you do hook into one, it can be almost impossible to get them out.
Tip #2: Cast at openings in the mangroves
Casting to areas where there are openings in the mangroves gives you a chance to get your lure close to the roots and can also make it easier for you to get the fish out.
Tip #3: Stay about 20 yards out from the shore
If you’re too far from the mangroves, your cast may be inaccurate, and if you’re too close, you can spook the fish.
Tip #4: Cast perpendicular to the mangroves
As you’re drifting parallel to the mangroves, cast directly at them.
If you’re casting at an angle, it can be really easy for the fish to go straight into the roots and break you off.
Tip #5: Use heavier line than you normally would on the flats
I use 30 lb fluorocarbon leader and I recommend 20 lb braid.
Braid is not as abrasion-resistant as fluorocarbon or mono, and it’s usually what gets broken through, so I definitely recommend stepping up the line strength there.
Tip #6: Use a proven lure
I like to skip soft plastic paddletails or jerk shads under the mangroves for snook.
My favorite paddletail is the Slam Shady and my favorite jerk shad is the Alabama Leprechaun.
Sure, other lures do work, but if you stick to one or two proven lures then you can focus on covering as much ground as possible.
Tip #6: Be ready to set the hook immediately
My lure usually gets hit as it’s falling, so don’t set your rod down after you cast.
Toss your lure under the mangroves, give it a few bumps, retrieve it a little bit, then quickly bring it back in.
Doing this will let you spend the majority of your fishing time with the lure in the strike zone, which will help you catch more fish.
Tip #7: Don’t be afraid to cast to the same spot twice
If you see a good spot, cast to it, and don’t get a bite… cast to it again!
That’s how I caught the snook in the video above.
Conclusion
If you want to catch more snook along mangrove shorelines, here are the main points: use a proven lure and cover lots of ground.
Keep the rest of the tips in mind, too, and you’ll be right on your way to becoming a consistent snook angler.
Have any questions about catching snook under mangroves?
Let us know in the comments below.
And if you know someone who wants to catch more snook, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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St. Croix Triumph rod in rod holder? What rod do you have in hand?
Yes thats a St. Croix behind me. Main rod I was using is a 7’10 Century Weapon. i had that one custom made from Black Pelican Custom Rods
Joe skipping Mangroves
You guys are Awsome!!!! Thankyou for all your saltwater tips!!! First time I used a Slam Shady I stuck a nice 20″ trout about 7 feet off the mangroves.
Thank you for the awesome feedback Jimmy! Thats a solid trout!
Hey Tony, what are your thoughts on spots where you consistently catch smaller snook but can’t seem to get any bigger ones? Do you think they’re there and I just need to switch up what I’m doing to target them or should I try different areas to target larger fish?
Hey Sean!
It can be hit or miss. I have caught small snook a few casts after catching a larger one an vice versa. The problem with the little guys is that they will typically go after a bait faster than the larger (smarter) fish. I would say just keep working the area or find another area with similar stricture and conditions. That specific location could just be over run by the little ones.
You may want to try to weed out the smaller fish with bigger baits. Such as a 10″ Hogy on a size 10-12 swimbait hook. That method is working for me right now, during these hot summer months in Florida.
Good tip! Specifically for this time of year though with the bigger baits. Summer through fall is a great time for larger bait profiles.
Yah aren’t you to use a 5inch in late summer and fall.
Thats more of a guideline than a rule. Smaller baits will get strikes all year long, but in the summer and fall it is also more appealing to fish to use a bigger bait, as opposed to in the winter and spring.
O, ok….thanks for that clarification!👍👍
You were using a 3 1/2 inch paddle tail I thought you were supposed to use a 5 inch paddle tail.
Smaller baits will work all year long. Bigger baits will definitely work in the summer and fall more than winter/spring. I also prefer smaller baits when fishing close to structure so it doesn’t spook the fish as much because you will usually cast right in their face, just like in the video.
I get it. Thank you Tony!
Floating plastics like the easy to skip ZMan Grasskicker rigged weedless work great for this kind of fishing.
Good choice as well!
As always great video Tony.
Thanks Stan!
Tony,
Where was this video made. I noticed the brown water, our water on the spacecoast is turning brown again.
Thanks
Dave
Hey Dave!
Yes this was on the space coast – East Central Florida
Hi Tony, you mentioned the leader and line but what rod & reel are you using?
Hey David,
I’m using a 7’10 Century Weapon (Med/Heavy Power – Fast Action) and a 3000 Shimano Stradic FL. Many people will consider this rod to be too long for skipping and fishing structure but I use it for various applications. Typically people will use a 6’6 to 7’0 rod with the same rating. Shorter rod will be easier to skip lures with.