I find snook to be quite unpredictable fighters. You never know whether they will charge toward any structure around or jump with gill rattling head shakes like a tarpon. Regardless they are incredible game fish.
Snook love structure like deep water drop-offs, channels, cuts, holes and mangrove edges. Although during their spawning period they can be found cruising white sand beaches throughout
We typically hunt for snook around the mangroves at lower stages of the tide. At this time they are pulled out from the mangrove roots by lack of water which makes the snook visible for us to cast at. We will find snook cruising the mangrove shorelines and snook “laid-up”. Neutrally buoyant minnow imitations are my favorite for these fish.
If it is a “laid-up” fish, a cast within a couple of feet in front or to the side of a fish is usually adequate. The fish will then start sliding toward the fly. A small “bump” or two of the fly by the angler is sometimes all it takes to get the fish to vault forward and engulf the fly. As with all our game fish, keep the rod tip down and keep stripping until the line is tight. If you lift the rod or “trout set” to the side it will be pretty likely you loose the fish. Once the fish is tight give it some good hard strip sets and be ready to “bow” if it jumps. Just like a tarpon a snook can jump and throw the fly.
With cruising fish, a cast a little further ahead, 4 to 6 feet is appropriate. Let the fish come up behind the fly, once it is within 2 feet start “bumping” the fly with small strips increasing in length and speed as the fish approaches (but not too fast). This will usually cause the fish to “commit” into chasing down and swallowing the fly. Just don’t pull the fly away from the fish BEFORE he eats it.
This will all unfold right before you eyes and is very exciting!